WHERE    SOCIALISM    FAILED 


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WHERE   SOCIALISM 
FAILED 

AN   ACTUAL   EXPERIMENT 
By   STEWART    GRAHAME 

WITH    ILLUSTRATIONS 
AND    A   MAP 


NEW  YORK 

McBRIDE,  NAST  &  COMPANY 

1912 


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THIS  BOOK  IS  DEDICATED 


4.  DOUGLAS  GRAEME 


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CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Introduction                 xi 

Chapter 

I.   The  Great  Strike          _        -         -         -  i 

II.    A  Better  Napoleon       -         -         -         -  n 

III.  The  Promised  Land   -         -         -         -  25 

IV.  Saihng  of  the  "Royal  Tar"       -         -  38 
V.   A  Matter  of  Morals     -         -         -         -  49 

VI.   Who  Will  do  the  Scavenging?  -  -     60 

VII.   The  Arrival  in  Paraguay    -         -  -     /O 

VIII.    Early  Days  at  New  Australia      -  -     80 

IX.   The  First  Expulsions           -         -  -     94 

X.    A  Hell  upon   Earth     -         -         -  -  103 

XI.    William  Lane  Secedes         -        -  -  112 

XII.    Free  and  Noble  Anarchism          -  -   122 

XIII.  The  Association  takes  to  Business  -  132 

XIV.  All  for  One  and  One  for  All        -  -  142 
XV.   The  Founding  of  Cosme  Colony  -   152 

XVI.    Cosme  Rites  and  Ceremonies      -         -  165 

XVIL    Recruiting  for  Cosme  -         -        -  178 

XVI II.    Exit  William  Lane      -         -         -         -   192 

XIX.    A  Black  Time  at  New  Australia  -  206 

XX.    New  Australia  and  Cosme  To-day       -  215 

XXI.  Religion — Morality — Suicide  -  -  229 
XX 11.    Conclusion  ------  239 

Appendices 242 

Bibliography       -------  262 

Index  - 263 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"  Was  it  for  this  that  they  had  left  Australia?" 

Frontispiece 

FAOINO 
PAGE 

"They  dumped  their  possessions  into  bullock 

carts"  -------     74 

Some  of  Lane's  Utopians         -         -         -        -  ii6 

Under  Socialism  most  of  the  children  had  no 

boots 146 

Mrs.  John  Lane  and  Family     -         -         -         -  156 

The  Ideal  Home  at  Cosme  -  -  -  -  184 
At  Cosme,  children  were  "cared  for"  by  the 

community 200 

New  Australian  children  (in  1904)  after  Socialism 

was  abandoned 222 

MAP. 

Map  of  Paraguay  showing  New  Australia  and 

Cosme  -         -         -         -         -         -    AT  END 


INTRODUCTION. 

In  his  introduction  to  "The  Socialist  Movement," 
Mr.  J.  Ramsay  Macdonald,  M.P.,  complains  that 
"One  of  the  greatest  of  the  difficulties  which  beset 
the  path  of  the  Socialist  is  the  refusal  on  the  part 
of  his  opponents  to  give  an  accurate  statement  of 
what  Socialism  means  and  what  the  purpose  of 
Socialism  is."  It  would  appear  therefore  that  a 
clear  statement  of  what  Socialism  meant,  and  how 
it  worked,  in  a  particular  instance  where  it  was 
tried  in  practice,  should  be  of  value  to  Socialist 
seekers  after  truth  as  well  as  to  the  general  public. 
"Where  Socialism  Flailed"  is  a  straightforward 
account  of  William  Lane's  bold  attempt  to  realise 
"Socialism  in  our  Time"  at  New  Australia  and 
Cosme  in  Paraguay. 

Although  most  of  the  matter  in  the  present  work 
is  fresh,  about  one-fifth  of  the  text  has  appeared 
before  in  the  "  Conservative  and  Unionist"  (pub- 
lished by  The  National  Conservative  Union),  or  in 
the  pamphlets  "New  Australia"  (published  by  H. 
E.  xMorgan),  and  "Socialism:  An  Actual  Experi- 
ment" (published  by  the  Anti-Socialist  Union). 
It  was  in  consequence  of  the  welcome  accorded  to 
"New  Australia"  in  the  Press  and  in  the  constitu- 
ences,  and  the  many  requests  for  fuller  information, 
made  by  Socialists  in  particular,  that  the  present 
work  was  undertaken.  1  take  this  opportunity  of 
assuring  Socialist  friends  that  the  book  is  not  a 
mere  compilation.  I  am  no  stranger  in  old 
Australia,  and  have  slept  over  five  hundred  nights 


Xll 

in  a  mud  hut  at  "  New  Australia."  My  own 
information  concerning  every  detail  of  life  at 
William  Lane's  two  settlements  was  obtained,  by 
word  of  mouth,  direct  from  leading  figures  in  the 
Association,  from  documents  supplied  by  them,  and 
from  personal  observation  and  experience.  Exten- 
sive use  has  been  made  of  quotations  from  articles, 
letters,  etc.,  by  those  in  sympathy  with  the  move- 
ment, and  of  official  reports,  principally  as  a  means 
of  setting  independent  confirmatory  evidence  before 
the  reader. 

I  desire  to  express  my  obligations  to  the 
Controller  of  His  Majesty's  Stationery  Office  for 
permission  to  use  the  extracts  from  Foreign  Office 
Reports  quoted  herein.  Also  to  the  British  Agent 
for  Cosme  Colony ;  and  to  the  Editors  of  the  follow- 
ing newspapers  from  whose  columns  quotations  (in 
some  cases  with,  in  others  without  formal  permis- 
sion) have  been  made  :  Sydney  Bulletin,  London 
Pall  Mall  Gazette,  New  Australia  Journal,  South 
American  Journal,  Barrier  Miner,  Cosme  Monthly, 
London  Daily  News,  Cosme  Evening  Notes,  South 
Australian  Register,  Sydney  Daily  Telegraph, 
Brisbane  Worker,  And  to  the  able  Socialist 
writers  upon  whose  works  I  have  drawn  for  authori- 
tative "statement  of  what  Socialism  means  and 
what  the  purpose  of  Socialism  is." 


STEWART   GRAHAME. 


Authors'  Club, 
April,  1912. 


CHAPTER    I. 
THE    GREAT    STRIKE. 

The  Australian  Socialist  party  commenced  its 
career  as  an  active  fighting  force  in  1889,  the  first 
manifestation  of  its  might  falling  like  a  bombshell, 
not  at  home,  but  in  Great  Britain.  When  the 
London  dock  labourers  came  out  on  strike — an 
unorganised  mob  not  affiliated  to  any  great  and 
wealthy  trade  union — it  was  freely  prophesied  that 
sheer  starvation  would  drive  them  back  to  work 
within  a  short  time.  The  prophets  were  disap- 
pointed, however,  for,  to  the  surprise  of  most 
people  in  England,  including  the  strikers  them- 
selves, their  meagre  funds  were  reinforced  by  a 
contribution  of  ;^30,ooo  cabled  from  Brisbane, 
and,  thus  assisted,  the  dock  labourers  gained  the 
day. 

Considering  the  fact  that  Australia  is  so  sparsely 
inhabited  it  was  considered  a  remarkable  thing  that 
so  large  a  sum  could  be  raised  from  a  section  of  its 
workers,  almost  in  a  moment,  for  the  purpose  of 
taking  sides  in  a  dispute  with  which  they  had  no 
concern,  for  the  benefit  of  men  they  had  never  met. 
In  fact,  the  incident  pointed  not  merely  to  the 
existence  of  a  wealthy  "Labour"  organisation  in 
the  Antipodes  but  also  to  a  new  spirit  of  unselfish- 
ness in  Trade  Unionism,  which  suggested  some 
very  exceptional  influence  in  the  background. 

Those  who  troubled  to  probe  into  the  matter 
further  discovered  that    the    central    figure  of    the 


2  THE   GREAT  STRIKE 

Australian  Socialist  movement  was  a  journalist 
named  William  Lane,  an  individual  who  figures  so 
prominently  in  the  following  narrative  that  it  will 
be  as  well  to  visualise  him  without  delay,  as  seen 
by  his  own  supporters. 

"Born  into  English  agricultural  life,  with  Irish 
and  Cornish  blood  in  his  veins,  with  an  adventurous 
spirit,  inherited  from  the  old  seafaring  stock  from 
which  he  sprang,"  one  of  his  warmest  admirers* 
says  of  him,  "the  dreamy,  studious  boy,  lamed 
from  birth,  learned  early  to  ponder  on  the  suffer- 
ings of  the  labouring  class  to  which  he  belonged. 
The  hard  struggle  and  premature  age  of  his  mother, 
in  particular,  sank  into  his  heart,  inspiring  a 
chivalrous  respect  for  women  in  the  abstract,  and  a 
practical  sympathy  for  the  working-woman  in  the 
concrete,  which  characterises  him  to  this  day. 
When  not  thirsting  for  a  sea-life,  picking  up  scraps 
of  Latin  from  a  somewhat  superior  village  school- 
master, or  busy  with  the  many  tasks  allotted  to  the 
children  of  the  poor,  the  boy  Lane  was  studying 
problems  with  large,  short-sighted  blue  eyes,  and 
learning  to  clothe  his  thoughts  in  language  culled 
from  the  Bible  and  the  Pilgrim's  Progress.  At 
the  age  of  fifteen  we  find  him  in  America,  earning 
his  own  bread,  learning  the  compositors'  work, 
picking  up  Yankee  '  cuteness '  with  the  Yankee 
twang,  devoting  all  his  spare  time  to  reading,  and 
preserving  the  nerve  and  bravado  which  enabled 
him  defiantly  to  swim  a  rapid  shunned  by  his  com- 
panions  as   fatal.     It  is   this  indomitable    'pluck,' 

*A.  T.  Eose-Soley,  in  the  "Westminster  Review." 


A   SIMPLE    REMEDY  3 

in  an  apparently  frail  body,  which  has  stood  him  in 
good  stead  in  later  days,  enabling  him  to  surmount 
obstacles  before  which  many  a  stout-hearted  man 
would  have  quailed.  From  the  compositors'  he 
drifted  into  the  reporters'  room,  and  was  soon 
wielding  a  vigorous  pen.  Some  few  3^ears  later, 
having  married  a  large-hearted,  broad-minded  wife, 
American-bred,  but  grand-daughter  of  a  shrewd 
Scotch  University  professor,  William  Lane  migrated 
to  Queensland,  and  became  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful free-lances  on  the  Australian  press." 

At  first  Lane  worked  on  the  Observer  and 
devoted  his  burning  pen  entirely  to  the  cause  of 
suffering  humanity.  Wherever  there  was  an  over- 
crowded slum  or  a  case  of  sweated  labour,  William 
Lane  would  ferret  it  out  and  hold  up  to  public 
scorn  those  who  were  responsible  for  such  evil 
conditions.  There  probably  never  lived  a  more 
single-minded  man,  and  his  honesty  of  purpose 
was  so  clearly  recognised  that  he  won  the  confid- 
ence of  the  working  classes  completely. 

It  was  Lane's  ferve.n  desire  "to  idealise  Labour, 
to  conquer  want,  and  hate,  and  greed,  and  vice, 
and  establish  peace  on  earth  and  good-will  towards 
men." 

Thousands  of  other  thinkers  have  desired  to  see 
the  same  beautiful  programme  realised,  though 
most  have  despaired  of  its  possibility  on  this  planet. 
With  his  optimistic  temperament,  however,  William 
Lane  was  convinced  that  there  really  did  exist, 
ready  to  hand,  a  simple  remedy  for  all  the  ills  that 
mar  the  civilised  world.  It  was  his  firm  conviction 
that,    if    capitalism    and    the  wages    system    were 


4  THE   GREAT  STRIKE 

utterly  abolished,  and  a  State  established  in  accord- 
ance with  vSocialistic  theories,  envy,  hatred,  malice 
and  all  uncharitableness  would  utterly  disappear 
from  the  earth ;  crime  would  be  no  more,  human 
nature  would  be  automatically  purged  of  all  its 
unlovely  features,  heaven  on  earth  would  be  a  fact 
for  every  man,  woman  and  child. 

Since  he  held  such  beliefs  it  was  not  wonderful 
that  Lane  strained  every  nerve  to  obtain  converts. 
He  rapidly  gained  an  extraordinary  ascendancy 
over  the  minds  of  the  intelligent  artisans  and 
mechanics  of  Brisbane,  and  disseminated  among 
them,  by  means  of  tracts,  free  reading  rooms  and 
Socialistic  debating  societies,  the  fascinating  fictions 
of  Bellamy  and  the  startling  doctrines  of  Karl  Marx 
and  his  disciples.  His  weekly  paper,  The  Boome- 
rang, met  with  instant  success,  and  served  as  a 
medium  for  reaching  the  miners  and  shearers  in 
the  back-blocks,  who  fell  under  the  spell  of  his 
glamorous  phrases  as  readily  as  the  townsfolk  had 
done.  This  much  accomplished,  he  tackled  the 
leaders  of  the  various  great  Trade  Unions  and  con- 
verted them  to  his  theory  that  it  would  be  possible, 
by  concerted  action,  to  overthrow  capital  and  con- 
fiscate land  and  all  means  of  production  for  the 
exclusive  benefit  of  the  manual  worker.  Then  he 
proved  his  own  adhesion  to  the  new  creed  by  leaving 
his  highly  remunerative  position,  and  moving  into 
a  common  workman's  cottage,  prior  to  establishing 
a  new  journal  on  co-operative  lines.  This  new- 
journal,  which  scored  an  instant  success,  was 
entitled  The  Worker,  and  had  for  its  war-cry  the 
motto  "  Socialism  in  our  Time."     In  it  he  ran  as  a 


PRACTICAL   SOCIALISM  5 

serial  Bellamy's  convert-making  story  "Looking 
Backward."  His  aims  are  well  summed  up  in 
Mr.  Blatchford's  statement : 

"Practical  Socialism  is  so  simple  that  a  child 
may  understand  it.  It  is  a  kind  of  national  scheme 
of  co-operation  managed  by  the  State.  Its  pro- 
gramme consists  essentially  of  one  demand,  that 
the  land  and  other  instruments  of  production  shall 
be  the  common  property  of  the  people,  and  shall 
be  used  and  governed  by  the  people  for  the 
people." 

With  his  magnetic  personality  Lane  seemed  like 
a  heaven-sent  prophet  to  the  eager  band  of  disciples 
W'ho  gathered  about  him  and  devoted  all  their 
energies  to  disseminating  his  doctrines.  Of  a  truth 
there  was  something  very  attractive  about  them  to 
the  wage-earners,  for  it  was  Lane's  amazing  creed, 
that  the  factory-hand  was  the  rightful  owner  of  the 
factory,  that  the  sheep-shearer  was  entitled  to  the 
full  profits  of  the  shearing  industry,  that  the  legal 
owners  of  all  forms  of  property  were  robbing  the 
manual  workers  of  their  dues.  Among  his  followers 
the  fallacious  theory  that  "the  frugal  workman  only 
gets  about  one-third  of  his  earnings,  while  under 
Socialism  he,  the  worker,  would  get  all  his  earn- 
ings,"  found  ready  acceptance. 

Wherever  manual  workers  were  gathered  to- 
gether, the  vividly  written  columns  of  The  Worker 
were  scanned,  and  its  burning  phrases  discussed 
with  eager  interest.  It  was  thus  that  William  Lane 
be(?ame  a  power  in  the  land,  a  man  who  was  literally 
worshipped  by  thousands;  who  had  only  to  bemoan 
the  miseries  of  certain  strikers  in  another  land  to 

B 


6  THE   GREAT   STRIKE 

open  the  purse  strings  of  all  who  followed  him  on 
their  behalf.  It  was  not  mere  philanthropy,  but  a 
far  deeper-seated  motive  which  moved  William 
Lane  to  take  the  action  he  did  with  regard  to  the 
London  dockers.  He  wanted  to  give  the  world  a 
powerful  demonstration  of  what  could  be  accom- 
plished, if  only  "the  workers"  would  broaden  their 
outlook  and  fight  each  other's  battles  as  well  as 
their  own.  The  principle  is  a  well-recognised  one 
now,  but  it  was  novel  then, 

"William  Lane  dreamed  of  a  federated  unionism 
which  should  link  together  all  the  component  parts 
of  the  labour  world,"  explains  Mr.  Rose-Soley. 
"It  was  with  this  object  that  he  mixed  himself  up 
with  strikes,  albeit  recognising,  with  most  far- 
seeing  thinkers,  the  absolute  futility  of  strikes  save 
as  an  evidence  of  strength  and  solidarity ;  it  was 
with  this  object  that  he  cemented  the  bonds  between 
labour  in  far-apart  lands,  instigating  the  magnificent 
contribution  of  the  Brisbane  wharf  labourer  to  his 
starving  brother,  the  London  docker." 

It  so  happened  that  Australia  at  that  time  w^as 
tottering  on  the  verge  of  a  financial  crisis.  For 
ten  years  the  "Working  Man's  Paradise"  had  lived 
on  credit.  Now  the  time  of  reckoning  was  at  hand, 
and  only  a  succession  of  prosperous  years,  un- 
hampered by  labour  troubles,  could  pull  things 
through.  It  was  an  anxious  time  for  all,  and  for 
the  pastoralists  in  particular.  Would  the  shearers, 
who  had  shared  in  their  good  times,  stand  by  them 
during  the  crisis?  Would  "labour"  combine  for 
its  own  sake  and  that  of  the  country,  to  save 
Australia  from  bankruptcy  ? 


AUSTRALIAN  LABOUR  FEDERATION  7 

A  thousand  times,  no  !  The  Trade  Unions' 
coffers  were  full,  and  here  was  the  heaven-sent 
chance  to  smash  "capital"  in  the  Antipodes.  The 
formidable  A.L.F,  (Australian  Labour  Federation) 
which  the  great  Unions  had  set  up,  seized  the 
opportunity  to  issue  a  manifesto  calling  upon  the 
State  to  nationalise  all  forms  of  property  and  to 
institute  "the  just  division  amongst  all  citizens  of 
the  State  of  all  wealth  production,  less  only  that 
part  retained  for  public  and  common  require- 
ments."* 

What  the  Paris  Commune  had  failed  to  effect  in 
France  they  hoped  to  achieve  at  one  blow  in 
Australia,  which  was  to  become  a  Paradise  of 
Socialism.  By  first  smashing  the  pastoralists,  and 
then  turning  the  battering  ram  of  their  organisation 
against  each  smaller  interest  in  turn  they  expected 
to  triumph.  It  was  the  declared  object  of  the 
Federation  "  to  attack  the  competitive  system  and 
openly  commence  a  campaign  which  will  not  cease 
until  Capitalism — that  is  the  private  holding  by  a 
few  of  the  means  whereby  all  must  live — is  no 
more." 

An  excuse  for  the  opening  of  a  conflict  was  found 
in  a  dispute  between  certain  shearers  and  the  pastor- 
alists, which  led  to  the  engagement  by  the  latter  of 
a  number  of  non-unionist  shearers  to  take  the  place 
of  those  on  strike.  At  once  the  Shearers'  Union 
took  up  the  position — since  grown  only  too  familiar 
to  English  employers  of  labour — of  refusing  to 
work    where     non-unionists    were    also    employed. 

*  See  Appendix  A.  for  full  "  Political  Aims  of  the  Federation." 


8  THE   GREAT  STRIKE 

Furthermore  the  Wharf  Labourers'  Union  intim- 
ated that  they  would  handle  no  wool  shorn  by 
"black-legs,"  and  declared  a  sympathetic  strike. 
Next,  the  merchant  marine  were  induced  to  join  the 
movement,  and  both  officers  and  men  left  their 
ships.  Then  the  coal-miners  of  Newcastle  (N.S.W.) 
refused  to  hew  coal  intended  for  the  ships  whose 
crews  were  on  strike,  and  the  colliery  owners 
locked  them  out. 

When  the  General  Strike  was  in  full  swing  all 
trades  and  industries  were  paralysed  throughout 
Queensland,  New  South  Wales,  Victoria  and  New 
Zealand  from  August  till  October,  1890,  even  the 
over-seas  shipping  lay  idle  in  the  harbours,  and  the 
strikers  neglected  no  means  to  make  their  boycott 
of  all  forms  of  work  effective.  Non-unionists 
engaged  in  carting  wool  through  the  streets  were 
charged  by  the  strikers  whose  Union  officials  could 
no  longer  control  them,  and  the  trolleys  flung  into 
the  sea.  The  Queensland  strikers  formed  huge 
camps  in  the  bush  and  incendiarism  was  frequent. 
The  prinicpal  towns  were  in  a  state  of  siege,  and, 
on  the  19th  September,  a  pitched  battle  was  fought 
between  police  and  mounted  troops  on  the  one  hand, 
and  the  determined  mobs  on  the  other. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  year  some  sort  of  truce 
was  patched  up,  but  in  1891  the  trouble  broke  out 
again,  and  once  more  in  1892.  In  the  latter  year  a 
special  train  taking  non-unionist  labour  from 
Adelaide  to  replace  strikers  at  the  Broken  Hill 
silver  mines,  was  attacked  by  an  armed  mob,  who 
not  only  stoned  but  also  fired  bullets  at  the  strike- 
breakers.     On  a  number  of  the  ringleaders  being 


THE   FINANCIAL   CRISIS  9 

imprisoned,  howling  rioters  stormed  the  gaol  deter- 
mined to  tear  it  down,  just  as  the  Parisians  levelled 
the  Bastille.  In  fact,  red  revolution  raged  in  the 
Antipodes  for  nearly  two  years  before  it  spent  its 
strength  and  the  A.L.F.  sulkily  admitted  defeat, 
and  allowed  its  members  to  return  to  work  in  the 
ordinary  manner. 

How  the  Trade  Union  leaders  must  have  cursed 
the  day  they  projected  the  General  Strike,  when 
they  counted  the  cost  of  that  two  years'  wicked, 
wasteful  strife  !  To  say  nothing  of  the  many 
millions  of  pounds  lost  to  trade  in  Australia  (about 
which  the  Federation  did  not  concern  itself)  the 
strikers  had  lost  ^{^2, 000, 000  in  wages,  the  Trade 
Union  coffers  were  emptied,  the  leaders'  credit 
gone,  their  power  broken.  Partly  as  a  result  of 
the  disastrous  strikes  the  long-threatened  financial 
catastrophe  descended  upon  Australia  in  1892-3 
and  banks  with  liabilities  of  ^134,000,000  sus- 
pended payment. 

The  A.L.F  had  demonstrated  its  strength,  truly, 
but  only  as  blind  Samson  proved  his,  when  he  broke 
the  pillars  which  supported  the  roof  in  the  house  of 
the  Philistines,  and  was  himself  crushed  in  the  ruin 
which  descended  upon  his  enemies. 

Note  : — When  the  struggle  broke  out  once  more  in  1894,  it  was 
conducted  with  even  greater  acrimony.  The  following  memorandum, 
by  an  eye-witness,  conveys  an  idea  of  how  the  unscrupulous  will  take 
advantage  of  a  purely  trade  dispute  to  promote  the  "class  war." 
"It  became  evident  that  there  was  a  large  body  who  were  not 
merely  bent  on  compelling  the  employers  to  alter  the  agreement, 
but  who  rather  regarded  the  whole  struggle  as  an  episode  in  the 
great  struggle  between  labour  and  capital,"  remarks  Mr.  G.  M.  L. 


10  THE  GREAT  STRIKE 

Lester  in  the  "Economic  Review."  These  men  carried  on  a  real 
and  bitter  warfare  against  capital  in  every  shape  and  form.  Not 
only  did  they  brutally  bully  and  ill-treat  "black-legs,"  but  they 
succeeded  also  in  de.stroying  the  woolsheds  at  Ayrshire  Downs, 
Cassilis,  Redcliffe,  Cambridge  Downs,  Murweh,  Eurongella, 
Manuca,  and  Oondooroo,  and  Dag^vorth.  The  shooting  case  at 
Coombe  Martin  and  the  night  attack  on  Dagworth  are  further 
evidences  of  the  bitterness  of  this  particular  party.  I  do  not 
believe  that  the  actions  of  these  violent  persons  met  with  the 
approval  of  the  better  sort  of  unionists,  but  it  is  significant  that 
no  Labour  member  to  my  knowledge,  nor  any  Labour  paper  as 
far  as  I  am  aware,  expressed  any  sense  of  shame  at  the  excesses 
of  their  advanced  guard.  Moreover,  pamphlets  of  the  inflamma- 
tory kind  common  to  the  revolutionary  and  the  penny  novelist, 
were  widely  circulated  throughout  the  colony,  urging  men  to 
useless  crime.  In  one  of  these  wonderful  productions  Parliaments 
are  described  as  "committees  of  corpulent  robbers  and  polished 
thieves,  oratorical  prostitutes  and  abject  hirelings."  "The  Tree 
of  Liberty  only  bears  fruit  when  manured  with  the  bones  of  the 
fat  usurers  and  insolent  despots."  Another  of  the  same  kind 
urges  men  to  "  study  the  science  of  death,  use  bullets,  steel, 
melinite,  kerosine,  lithofracteur,  poison,  blasting  powder."  Finally, 
it  says,  "You  must  steal  like  Spartans,  think  like  heroes,  lie  like 
hell." 


CHAPTER    II. 

A  BETTER    NAPOLEON. 

As  there  has  been  a  good  deal  of  misapprehension 
on  this  subject,  it  should  be  clearly  understood  that 
the  Labour  Federation's  attack  on  Capital  was 
simply  an  act  of  aggression,  with  Syndicalism  as 
its  object.  The  battle  was  not  fought  by  the 
Unions  on  legitimate  grounds  in  defence  of  some 
overworked  or  underpaid  members.  Employers  of 
Labour  were  under  the  thumb  of  the  Unions,  whose 
yoke  was  grievous  to  bear,  and  wages  ruled  higher, 
with  shorter  hours,  than  in  any  other  country  of 
the  world. 

In  1882  navvies  and  general  labourers  received  a 
minimum  of  8s.  daily,  blacksmiths  los.,  painters 
and  carpenters  iis.,  stonemasons  iis.  6d.,  plaster- 
ers I2S.,  and  bricklayers  12s.  6d.  Four  years  later 
wages  fell  somewhat,  though  they  were  still  very 
high,  in  1888  they  bounded  up  again,  and  rose  once 
more  in  1889.  Thus  on  the  eve  of  the  Great  Strike 
Australia  might  truly  be  called  the  "Working 
Man's  Paradise."  Now,  observe  how  Trade  Union 
greed,  like  the  monkey  with  the  nuts  in  a  familiar 
fable,  defeated  its  own  object,  and,  by  seeking  to 
grasp  all,  lost  most  of  what  it  had  already  secured. 
In  bringing  about  the  ruin  of  the  Capitalist,  the 
Labour  Federation  was  startled  to  discover  that  it 
had  also  ruined  "  Labour."  By  the  end  of  1895, 
wages  had  fallen  below  the  level  at  which  they  stood 

II 


12  A  BETTER  NAPOLEON 

— before  the  commencement  of  Trade  Union  activity 
— in   1850  ! 

Thus  the  great  plot  recoiled  upon  the  heads  of 
the  Trade  Unions  and  its  promoters  admitted  their 
mistake.  But  when  the  Trade  Union  officials  were 
in  the  depths  of  despair  over  the  proved  inefficiency 
of  strike  methods,  the  way  to  snatch  a  victory  from 
defeat  was  pointed  out  by  William  Lane  and  his 
chosen  band  of  associates — -men  who  in  the  strange 
condition  of  Australia  at  that  time,  might  be 
barristers,  university  graduates,  ex-bank  managers, 
or  highly  trained  journalists  although  they  hap- 
pened to  be  earning  their  livelihood  as  shearers, 
storekeepers  or  miners. 

"  Since  Labour  alone  produces  wealth,"  they 
argued,  "it  is  still  possible  to  checkmate  Capital  by 
withdrawing  Labour,  not  temporarily  by  means  of 
another  strike,  but  bodily  to  a  new  country,  where 
none  but  the  workers  themselves  shall  profit  by 
their  industry." 

Foreseeing  that  the  slump  in  wages  would  give  a 
great  impetus  to  such  a  movement,  Lane  began  in 
1890  to  project  a  plan  so  daring,  and  so  unprece- 
dented, that  at  first  few  people  believed  that  it  could 
be  seriously  contemplated.  However,  on  this 
occasion,  as  always,  Lane  was  in  grim  earnest,  and 
issued  his  ultimatum  to  Capital  in  the  form  of  the 
following 

Declaration  of  Principles. 

Whereas — 

So  long  as  one  depends  upon  another  for  leave 
to  work  and  so  long  as  the  selfishness  induced  by 


AN  ASSOCIATION  OF  WORKERS      13 

the  uncertainty  of  living  prevents  mankind  from 
seeing  that  it  is  best  for  all  to  insure  one  another 
against  all  possibility  of  social  degradation,  true 
Liberty  and  Happiness  are  impossible;  and 

Whereas — 

The  weakness,  ignorance,  and  doubts  of 
society  at  large  is  the  great  barrier  in  the  way  of 
the  establishment  of  such  true  social  order  as  will 
insure  to  every  citizen  security  against  want  and 
opportunity  to  develop  to  the  fullest  the  faculties 
evolving  in   Humanity; 

Therefore — 

It  is  desirable  and  imperative  that  by  a  com- 
munity wherein  all  labour  in  common  for  the 
common  good  actual  proof  shall  be  given  that 
under  conditions  which  render  it  impossible  for 
one  to  tyrannize  over  another,  and  which  declare 
the  first  duty  of  each  to  be  the  well-being  of  all 
and  the  sole  duty  of  all  to  be  the  well-being  of 
each,  men  and  women  can  live  in  comfort, 
happiness,  intelligence  and  orderliness  unknown 
in  a  society  where  none  can  be  sure  to-day  that 
they  or  their  children  will  not  starve  to-morrow. 

With  this  end  in  view  an  Association  of 
Workers  is  hereby  instituted,  .  .  .  the  signatories 
intending  and  expecting  to  migrate  to  another 
country  there  to  devote  to  the  movement  their 
possessions  and  their  best  endeavours. 

It   was  at  first  supposed  by  most  thinking  people 
in  Australia  that  William  Lane  would  find  few  to 


14  A  BETTER   NAPOLEON 

back  his  remarkable  project,  but  circumstances 
were  in  his  favour.  The  Queensland  Bush  was 
still  full  of  strikers'  camps,  where  hundreds  of 
capable  and  able-bodied  shearers  found  themselves 
stranded  and  unable  to  obtain  work,  because  many 
pastoralists  were  ruined  and  others  were  employing 
non-unionists  only. 

Unlike  the  shearers  of  a  by-gone  day,  who  were 
notoriously  illiterate,  stupid  and  drunken,  the  aver- 
age modern  shearer  is  sober,  shrewd,  and  hard- 
headed,  and  perhaps  the  most  argumentative  man 
on  earth.  As  a  rule  he  has  great  notions  on  the 
subject  of  equality,  and  a  considerable  portion  of  his 
ample  leisure  is  spent  in  reading  and  re-reading 
the  interesting  writings  of  Messrs.  Bellamy,  Blatch- 
ford,  Karl  Marx  and  Belfort  Bax,  and  arguing 
with  his  mates  upon  them.  He  religiously  takes 
in  some  weekly  paper  devoted  to  a  red-hot  Socialist 
propaganda,  and  believes  himself  exceptionally 
well-informed  upon  the  course  of  all  affairs  that 
matter  throughout  the  universe.  Among  such  men 
as  these,  already  so  far  converted  to  his  way  of 
thinking  that  they  held  as  a  simple  statement  of  fact 
the  saying  that  '  all  save  manual  workers  are  thieves 
and  parasites  upon  the  rest  of  the  community,' 
Lane  was  confident  of  finding  fruit  ripe  for  his 
plucking. 

In  the  remote  Bush,  moreover,  there  were  thou- 
sands of  others  not  concerned  in — who  might  not 
even  have  heard  of — the  Great  Strike.  There 
were,  for  instance,  the  "free  selectors"  in  the  back- 
blocks,  living  wretchedly  upon  the  land  from  which 
the  once  wealthy  squatters  had  been  driven,  where 


PRIVATE   ENTERPRISE   DYING        15 

they  had  been  dumped  and  forgotten  by  a  Socialistic 
Government.  "They  erect  their  ramshackle  home- 
steads with  no  regard  to  taste.  In  them  are 
begotten  swarms  of  half-wild  children,  who  will  not 
reply  to  a  civil  question  if  asked,  but  either  stupidly 
stare,  hide  behind  the  first  tree,  or  creep  into  some 
hole,  as  the  traveller  passes  by."*  In  equally  bad 
case  were  the  small  capitalists,  whose  farms  or 
orchards  had  gone  to  ruin  because  the  artificially 
maintained  cost  of  labour  made  hired  help  imposs- 
ible. As  a  newspaper  put  it  "  the  country  is 
languishing  for  the  labour  congested  in  the  Metro- 
polis. Private  enterprise  is  dying,  being  slowly 
killed  by  Government  competition.  Dairymen  are 
turning  their  farms  into  sheep-runs  because  they 
cannot  get  Labour;  fruit  in  the  orchards  is  rotting 
on  the  trees  or  on  the  ground  from  the  same  cause. 
The  selectors  in  Gippsland  especially  are  crippled ; 
they  find  it  impossible  to  get  their  land  cleared. 
But  everywhere  through  the  State  there  is  the  same 
complaint  of  scarcity  of  Labour  .  .  .  the  Govern- 
ment has  raised  the  rate  of  wages  to  seven  shillings 
a  day;  the  labourer  naturally  prefers  the  Govern- 
ment stroke  and  can  be  tempted  away  from  that 
easy  and  pleasant  way  of  passing  his  time  only  by 
an  increased  rate  of  wages.  That  increased  rate 
very  few  industries  can  afford  to  pay ;  thus  all  enter- 
prise is  crushed." 

Having  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  their 
troubles  Lane  foresaw  that  a  sufficient  bait  would 
catch  the  selectors  and  small  capitalists  by 
hundreds;   but  the  bait  must  be  sufficient. 

*  "  Leaves  from  a  Squatter's  Note  Book." 


i6  A  BETTER  NAPOLEON 

To  tempt  them  to  join  his  scheme  he  recognised 
that  the  appeal  must  be  a  personal  one.  and  that 
the  missionary  of  his  movement  must  possess  the 
enthusiasm  and  personal  magnetism  of  an  inspired 
prophet. 

"  Is  not  the  only  hope  in  the  rising  of  a  better 
Napoleon  ?"  he  demanded.  "  In  the  elevation  of  a 
leader  with  the  brain  of  a  Jay  Gould  and  the  heart 
of  a  Christ?" 

After  careful  consideration  William  Lane  decided 
to  undertake  the  work  himself. 

Turning  over  the  editorship  of  The  Worker  to 
other  hands,  he  set  forth  upon  his  whirlwind  mission, 
sustained  by  a  perfect  faith  in  the  righteousness  of 
his  cause — for  Lane  believed  every  word  of  what  he 
preached.  To  him  "Looking  Backward"  was  no 
delightfully  ingenious  fiction  ;  he  was  convinced  that 
the  counterpart  of  everything  described  in  Bellamy's 
book  might  be  set  up  in  real  life.  It  was  this 
absolute  belief  in  the  beneficence  of  his  mission 
which  gave  Lane  his  convincing  power.  When  he 
dismounted  from  his  horse  at  sundown  at  some 
isolated  shearing-shed — caked  with  dust  and  stiff 
from  long  riding,  his  throat  parched  and  his  head 
aching  from  the  sun- — weariness  slipped  from  him 
as  if  by  magic  when  the  shearers  gathered  about 
him  and  he  broached  the  one  theme  which  he  had 
ridden  so  far  to  open  to  them.  Or,  in  the  lonely 
Bush,  he  would  halt  by  some  camp-fire  and  puff 
his  pipe  in  company  with  the  other  wayfarers 
gathered  round  its  genial  flare.  At  first  the  con- 
versation would  be  upon  indifferent  subjects,  may- 
be,  but  when  they   realized  that  their  visitor  was 


THE   PROMISED   LAND  17 

"John  Miller"  (as  he  sio^ned  himself)  of  The 
Worker,  an  expectant  hush  would  fall  upon  the 
little  assembly,  and  Lane  needed  no  urging  to  talk 
for  hour  on  hour  about  the  glories  of  the  "Promised 
Land,"  to  which  he  w^ould  lead  them  if  they  would 
only  trust  him. 

What  an  asset  such  a  man  would  have  been  as 
the  organiser  of  some  saner  plan  of  social  ameliora- 
tion !  And  yet,  who  knows  ?  it  may  be  that  the 
warning  provided  by  the  failure  of  this  earnest,  but 
mistaken  enthusiast,  will  be  of  more  service  to  the 
present  and  future  generations  than  his  moderate 
success  in  some  less  ambitious  direction,  would 
have  been. 

Mere  lip-service,  or  formal  assent  to  the  doctrines 
he  taught,  would  not  satisfy  Lane.  When  once  he 
discovered  that  he  had  won  a  man's  secret  sym- 
pathies, he  did  not  rest  until  that  man  was  converted 
to  the  necessity  for  action. 

"All  that  any  religion  has  been  to  the  highest 
thought  of  any  people,  Socialism  is,  and  more,  to 
those  who  conceive  it  aright,"  he  declared.* 
"  Without  blinding  us  to  our  own  weaknesses  and 
wickedness,  without  offering  to  us  any  sophistry, 
or  cajoling  us  with  any  fallacy,  it  enthrones  Love 
above  the  universe,  gives  us  hope  for  all  who  are 
down-trodden,  and  restores  to  us  faith  in  the  eternal 
fitness  of  things.  Socialism  is  indeed  a  religion — ■ 
demanding  deeds  as  well  as  words.  Not  until 
professing  Socialists  understand  this  will  the  world 
at  large  see  Socialism  as  it  really  is." 

As  it  happened,  William  Lane  was  not  alone  just 
•"The  Working  Man's  Paradise,"  by  William  Lane. 


i8  A  BETTER   NAPOLEON 

then  in  projecting  a  scheme  for  the  estabhshment 
of  a  perfect  State  where  all  should  be  free  and  equal. 
Early  in  1890  Herr  Theodor  Hertzka  (at  one  time 
economic  editor  to  the  Neue  Freie  Presse)  published 
in  Vienna  his  "  Freeland — A  Social  Anticipation," 
of  which  interesting  work  an  English  translation* 
appeared  in  1891.  Being  written  by  an  acknow- 
ledged authority  on  economic  questions,  this  closely- 
reasoned  Utopian  romance  attracted  a  great  deal  of 
attention,  and  a  "  Freeland  Association  "  was 
formed  on  the  Continent  for  the  purpose  of  putting 
its  teachings  into  practice.  With  apparently  flaw- 
less logic,  Herr  Hertzka  proved  that  in  a  state  so 
ideally,  yet  simply,  organised  as  "Freeland,"  such 
universal  luxury  would  be  enjoyed  that  it  would 
seem  "as  if  each  Freelander  without  exception  had 
about  120  slaves  at  his  disposal."  "What  wonder 
that  we  can  live  like  masters,"  one  of  his  characters 
remarks,  "  notwithstanding  that  servitude  is  un- 
known in  Freeland!"  In  addition,  within  twenty- 
five  years  of  its  foundation,  the  joint-wealth  equally 
enjoyed  by  the  26,000,000  inhabitants  of  Freeland, 
amounts  "without  taking  into  account  the  incalcul- 
able value  of  the  soil — to  ;^i300  per  head,  or  /;"6ooo 
per  family." 

Of  course  the  English  edition  of  this  work  found 
its  way  to  Australia,  and  prepared  a  harvest  ready 
to  be  reaped  by  William  Lane.  Probably  also  it 
greatly  encouraged  him  to  go  forward  with  his  pro- 
posal, although  on  somewhat  different  lines.  But 
then  the  readers  of  "Freeland"  were  prepared  for 
some  slight  variations  in  the  scheme,  for,   in  his 

*Chatto  and  Windus,  London. 


A   SOCIALIST   PARADISE  19 

preface,  Hertzka  himself  said,  "  I  do  not  imagine 
that  the  estabHshment  of  the  future  social  order 
must  necessarily  be  effected  exactly  in  the  way 
described  in  the  following  pages.  ...  If  economic 
freedom  and  justice  are  to  obtain  in  human  society, 
they  must  be  seriously  determined  upon  ;  and  it 
seems  easier  to  unite  a  few  thousands  in  such  a 
determination  than  numberless  millions,  most  of 
whom  are  not  accustomed  to  accept  the  new— let  it 
be  ever  so  clear  and  self-evident — until  it  has  been 
embodied  in  fact." 

That  was  precisely  the  view  which  William  Lane 
was  so  fond  of  urging.  He  planned  to  commence 
his  ideal  State  with  not  more  than  about  800 
families.  When  they  had  embodied  in  fact,  for  the 
whole  world  to  see,  the  wonderful  prosperity  and 
happiness  to  be  enjoyed  under  Socialism,  he 
believed  that  all  civilised  peoples  would  hasten  to 
embrace  its  benefits  also. 

The  name  which  Lane  decided  to  give  his 
Socialist  paradise  was  "  New  Australia,"  but  this 
did  not  imply  that  only  Australians  were  welcomed; 
people  of  any  nationality  might  join,  provided  they 
were  not  coloured.  It  was  his  design  to  send  pro- 
pagandist missionaries  to  Great  Britain,  South 
Africa  and  Canada  as  soon  as  a  suitable  territory 
had  been  found  and  a  nucleus  settlement  estab- 
lished. Simultaneously  with  his  own  recruiting 
campaign,  he  sent  forth  three  trusted  emissaries, 
Walker,  Leek  and  Saunders,  all  experienced  bush- 
men,  to  prospect  a  site  for  his  new  Canaan.  His 
instructions  to  them  were  identical  in  character  with 


20  A  BETTER   NAPOLEON 

those  which  Moses*  gave  to  Joshua  and  his  com- 
panions : 

"See  the  land  what  it  is;  and  the  people  that 
dwelleth  therein,  whether  they  be  strong  or  weak, 
few  or  many ; 

"And  what  the  land  is  that  they  dwell  in,  whether 
it  be  good  or  bad ;  and  what  cities  they  be  that  they 
dwell  in,  whether  in  tents,  or  in  strongholds; 

"And  what  the  land  is,  whether  it  be  fat  or  lean, 
whether  there  be  wood  therein,  or  not." 

But  Lane's  plan  of  procedure  differed  in  this  vital 
respect  from  that  of  Moses ;  that  whereas  the  latter 
relied  wholly  upon  God  to  give  his  followers  secure 
possession  of  "a  land  which  floweth  with  milk  and 
honey,"  it  was  a  basic  principle  with  William  Lane 
to  exclude  the  Deity  from  any  participation  in  the 
affairs  of  New  Australia.  As  will  be  seen  from  the 
official  "  Basis "  below,  it  was  laid  down  that 
religion  would  not  be  recognised  by  Lane's  com- 
munity. 

The  following  is  the  exact  textf  of  the  Constitu- 
tion, which  all  who  joined  the  New  Australia 
Co-operative  Settlement  Association  signed,  and 
pledged  themselves  loyally  to  observe. 

BASIS  OF  CO-OPERATIVE  ORGANISATION. 

Production.  Ownership  by  the  community  of  all  the 
means  of  production  in  exchange  and  distribution. 

Conduct  by  the  community  of  all  production  in 
exchange  and  distribution. 

*  Numbers  xiii.  18-20. 

t  At  a  later  date  the  Constitution  was  altered  in  certain 
important  respects.     See  Appendix  C. 


BASIS   OF  ORGANISATION  21 

vSiiperintendence  by  the  community  of  all  labour-saving 
co-operations. 

Allotment.  INIaintcnance  by  tlie  community  of  children 
under  guardianship  of  parents. 

Maintenance  by  the  community  of  all  sanitary  and 
educational  establishments. 

Saving  by  the  community  of  all  capital  needed  by  the 
community. 

Division  of  remaining  wealth  production  among  all 
adult  members  of  the  community  equally,  without  regard 
to  sex,  age,  oflfice,  or  ph3'^sical  or  mental  capacity. 

Authority.  vSubject  to  the  supremacy  of  the  laws  of 
the  state  settled  in,  which  all  members  pledge  themselves 
to  observe  loyally,  the  following  authority  and  regulations 
shall  be  observed  between  the  members  of  the  commu- 
nity :  — 

Ballot  vote  of  all  adult  members  to  be  supreme 
authorit3^ 

Director,  elected  by  two-thirds  majority  of  general 
ballot,  to  be  sole  executive  authority,  advised  by  Board 
of  Superintendents. 

Superintendents,  elected  by  two-thirds  majority  of 
departmental  ballot,  to  be  sole  departmental  authorities^ 
subject  to  director. 

Regulations.  Regulations  afifccting  the  community  at 
large  to  be  confirmed  by  a  two-thirds  majority  of  all 
adult  members. 

Departmental  regulations  to  be  confirmed  by  a  majority 
of  all  adult  members  interested. 

All  regulations  to  be  submitted  annually  for  continua- 
tion or  rejection. 

Disputes    arising    between    the    community    and    any 
member    or    members    to    be    decided    in    equity    by    an 
c 


22  A  BETTER   NAPOLEON 

arbitrator  mutually  agreed  upon  between  the  communal 
authority  and  the  member  or  members  interested. 

Disputes  arising  between  members  to  be  decided  in 
equity  by  an  arbitrator  mutually  agreed  vtpou  by  them. 

Dismissal  from  the  community,  for  persistent  or  un- 
pardonable offence  against  the  well-being  of  the  com- 
munity, to  be  decreed  only  by  a  five-sixth  majority  of  all 
adult  members. 

Elections.  All  offices  to  be  vacated  anmially  and 
whenever  occupants  cease  to  retain  the  confidence  of  their 
constituents. 

Individuality.  The  individuality  of  every  member  in 
thought,  religion,  speech  and  leisure,  and  in  all  matters 
whatsoever  whereby  the  individuality  of  others  is  not 
affected  to  be  held  inviolable. 

Sex  Equality.  The  sexes  to  be  recognised  as  equally 
entitled  to  full  membership. 

Religion.  Religion  not  to  be  officiall}''  recognised  by 
the  community. 

Amendment.  Amendment  of  this  basis  for  co-operative 
organisation  to  be  made  only  by  a  two-thirds  majority  of 
all  adult  members. 


FINANCIAL  CLAUSES. 

Agreement.  Every  member  of  the  association,  by  act 
^  joining  the  association,  agrees  to  subscribe  to  the  funds 
of  the  association  all  he  may  possess  when  he  is  finally 
enrolled  for  actual  migration,  such  subscription  to  be  not 
less  than  ;(;6o. 

Preliminary  Expenses.  The  necessary  funds  for  all 
preliminary  expenses,  including  prospecting^  organisation, 
and  colonisation  arrangements,  shall  be  provided  by  a 
preliminary  payment  of  ,^io,  £^  of  which  must  be  paid 
within  one  month  of  provisional  enrolment,  the  other  £5 


FINANCIAL    CLAUSES  23 

within  three  months  of  provisional  enrolment  :  this  £10 
to  be  counted  as  part  of  the  ;{;6o  which  is  fixed  as  the 
minimiiui  final  subscription. 

Return  of  Payments.  The  pa}-ment  of  ^10  for  pre- 
liminary expenses  and  the  final  subscription  of  not  less 
than  an  additional  ,^50  shall  both  be,  when  made,  free  and 
voluntary  donations  to  the  board  of  trustees  for  the 
purposes  of  the  association,  which  no  member  shall 
reclaim  if  he  decides,  after  having  made  either,  to  with- 
draw from  membership.  But  any  member  shall  be 
entitled  to  reclaim  any  amount  over  /[lo  which  he  may 
have  paid  to  the  board  of  trustees  in  advance  for  and  on 
account  of  his  final  subscription  should  he  decide,  before 
final  enrolment  for  migration,  to  withdraw  from  member- 
ship. The  board  of  trustees,  if  for  any  reason  whatever 
it  decides  to  strike  from  the  roll  any  member  who  has 
fulfilled  to  the  time  of  such  striking  off  all  the  conditions 
of  membership,  shall  return  him  his  previous  payments 
in  full. 

Widowed  INIothers.  A  subscription  of  £2,0  will  be 
required  for  widowed  mothers  accompanying  sons  to  the 
settlement.    Exceptions  at  discretion  of  trustees. 

Men  over  Fifty.  At  the  discretion  of  the  trustees  a 
minimum  subscription  of  £100  may  be  required  of  men 
over  50  years  of  age  applying  for  membership. 

Estimated  Final  Contribution.  Every  member  on 
joining  shall  state  the  estimated  amount  of  his  intended 
final  contribution,  and  the  delegate  enrolling  shall  certify 
tliat  such  is  a  fair  estimate  to  the  best  of  his  knowledge 
and  belief. 

Premium  for  Children.  Every  family  enrolled  after 
June  12,  1893,  to  be  charged  a  premium  of  ^i"  foi"  every 
cliild  over  one  year  of  age,  this  premium  to  be  added  to 
the  final  payment  of  not  less  than  £^0.  Exceptions  at 
discretion  of  trustees. 


24  A  BETTER   NAPOLEON 

The  Liquor  Question.  Without  prejudice  to  the 
liquor  question  members  shall  pledge  themselves  to 
teetotalism  until  the  initial  difliculties  of  settlement  have 
passed,  and  the  Constitution  been  established. 

With  the  circulars  giving  these  particulars  of  the  New 
Australia  movement,  the  following  notification  was 
issued  :  — 

"  This  Association,  organized  upon  the  above  lines,  is  in 
full  accord  with  the  Organisation  of  Labour,  and  has  been 
recognized  as  such  by  all  the  great  bush  unions  of 
Australia  and  by  the  Queensland  A.L.F.  General  Council. 
Nearly  half  a  million  acres  have  been  selected  by  its  own 
prospectors  in  Paraguay  and  conceded  it  by  the  Govern- 
ment of  that  country.  This  land  will  never  be  sold  but 
used  to  build  up  co-operative  settlement.  There  is  no 
humbug  about  New  Australia." 


CHAPTER   III. 

THE   PROMISED    LAND. 

In  selecting  a  site  for  New  Australia  Lane  was 
guided  by  the  following  principles  laid  down  by 
Hertzka  for  his  "  Freeland  "  experiment: — "In 
carrying  out  our  programme  a  hitherto  unappro- 
priated large  tract  of  land  will  have  to  be  acquired 
for  the  founding  of  an  independent  community. 
The  question  now  is,  what  part  of  the  earth  shall  we 
choose  for  such  a  purpose?  For  obvious  reasons 
we  cannot  look  for  territory  to  any  part  of  Europe; 
and  everywhere  in  Asia,  at  least  in  those  parts  in 
which  Caucasian  races  could  flourish,  we  should  be 
continually  coming  into  collision  with  ancient  forms 
of  law  and  society.  We  might  expect  that  the 
several  governments  in  America  and  Australia 
would  readily  grant  us  land  and  freedom  of  action ; 
but  even  there  our  young  community  would  scarcely 
be  able  to  enjoy  that  undisturbed  quiet  and  security 
against  antagonistic  interference  which  would  be  at 
first  a  necessary  condition  of  rapid  and  uninter- 
rupted success." 

The  learned  doctor  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
such  a  tract  of  ground  as  he  desired  could  be  found 
only  in  Africa;  William  Lane,  however,  turned  his 
attention  to  South  America  with  its  equally  great 
natural  resources  still  awaiting  development.  From 
his  point  of  view  there  were  strong  arguments  in 
favour  of  Paraguay  as  a  suitable  place  for  a  large 

25 


26  THE   PROMISED   LAND 

body  of  energetic  Anglo-Saxons  to  settle  in,  since 
that  State  was  one  of  the  most  prosperous  of  the 
Latin  republics  until  the  disastrous  war  of  1865-70 
brought  it  to  utter  ruin.  To  restore  tl;e  country  to 
its  old  prosperity  nothing  more  was  (or  is  at  the 
present  day)  needed  than  the  introduction  of  a  great 
many  suitable  immigrants,  not  afraid  of  work  and 
capable  of  hard  pioneering  labour. 

In  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century  Paraguay 
was  the  most  progressive  State  in  South  ^America, 
witli  so  many  flourishing  industries  that  it  was  quite 
self-contained  and  economically  independent  of  the 
rest  of  the  world.  It  was  the  first  country  in  South 
America  to  be  provided  with  a  railway.  "  When 
Solano  Lopez  succeeded  to  the  headship  of  the 
State  in  1862  it  possessed  a  respectable  standing 
army  and  a  large  trained  reserve,  a  squadron  of 
gun-boats  capable  of  meeting  anything  that  floated 
on  River  Plate  waters;  a  series  of  fortified  places 
on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Paraguay;  an  arsenal, 
a  gun  foundry  and  a  large  sum  of  money  in  the 
national  coffers,"  the  Paraguayan  Consul  once 
proudly  stated  before  the  Society  of  Arts.  But 
alas  !  the  mad  ambitions  of  an  autocrat  brought 
irretrievable  ruin  upon  the  country.  "  In  the  short 
period  of  eight  years  the  vast  resources  of  which 
Marshal  Lopez  came  into  possession  had  completely 
disappeared.  The  soldiers  were  lying  dead  upon 
the  field  of  battle,  the  national  treasury  was  empty, 
the  flotilla  had  been  captured,  the  arsenal  and  forts 
had  been  turned  into  heaps  of  ruins,  the  happy  and 
prosperous  land  had  been  devastated,  the  towns  and 
villages  destroyed,  the  rich  pasture  lands  denuded 


A  TERRIBLE   WAR  27 

of  their  cattle,  the  population  reduced  from  upwards 
of  a  million  to  one  quarter  of  that  number  and  that 
remnant  composed  of  women  and  children  ;  not  a 
man  was  l^ft  to  till  the  ground,  not  an  ox  to  draw 
the  plough,  and  Lopez  himself,  the  origin  of  all 
this  misery  and  ruin,  had  died  sword  in  hand  upon 
the  banks  of  the  Aquidaban," 

During  that  terrible  war  against  the  combined 
armies  of  Brazil,  the  Argentine,  and  LTruguay,  not 
only  did  the  practice  of  all  industries  die  out  but 
every  skilled  worker  perished,  so  that  the  Para- 
guayans of  the  next  generation  grew  up  ignorant 
of  the  arts  in  which  their  forbears  were  skilled  and, 
for  the  most  part,  reverted  to  a  primitive  way  of 
living  not  far  removed  from  savagery.  Moreover 
the  owners  of  hundreds  of  square  miles  of  land  had 
perished,  without  leaving  a  single  member  of  their 
families  to  succeed  them;  even  the  title  deeds  had 
vanished  and  for  many  rich  estates  the  Government 
could  find  no  claimants.  Thus  it  came  about  that 
almost  the  whole  area  of  the  Republic  was  "nation- 
alised" as  completely  as  the  most  ardent  Socialist 
could  wish,  and  vast  tracts  of  country  of  untold 
richness  became  available,  and  were  freely  offered, 
for  settlement,  to  those  who  could  help  to  re-estab- 
lish the  industries  and  develop  the  great  natural 
resources  of  the  country. 

In  spite  of  its  many  advantages  Lane's  three 
prospectors  did  not  immediately  visit  Paraguay, 
since  the  Argentine  government  was  equallv  anxi- 
ous to  secure  good  immigrants,  and  offered  large 
tracts  of  land  on  tempting  settlement  conditions. 
But  the  Australians    had  orders  not  to  conclude  a 


28  THE   O^OMISED   LAND 

bargain  until  they  were  fully  satisfied  as  to 
(i)  climate,  (2)  soil,  (3)  water,  (4)  timber,  and 
(5)  ease  of  access,  together  with  the  friendly  disposi- 
tion of  the  Government  and  the  security  of  life  and 
property,  and  so  were  not  easy  to  please.  For 
many  months  they  scoured  the  country  and 
admitted  that  much  of  it  was  admirable  for  sheep 
raising,  but  the  more  accessible  parts  of  the  Argen- 
tine were  long  since  taken  up  and  had  reached 
inflated  values;  anything  within  reach  of  their 
means,  or  offered  practically  for  nothing,  was  in  the 
far  south  or  in  the  remote  wilderness  towards  the 
Andes.  At  the  Welsh  colony  at  Chubut,  to  which 
they  had  been  referred  as  an  example  of  what 
courageous  pioneers  could  accomplish,  the  prospec- 
tors heard  dismal  tales  of  ruined  harvests,  in 
successive  seasons,  due  to  floods,  and  frost.  Else- 
where they  were  told  of  droughts  almost  as  severe 
as  those  from  which  Australia  suffers;  in  other 
parts  they  were  disheartened  by  the  flat  uninterest- 
ing look  of  the  untimbered  country,  to  say  nothing 
of  the  difficulty  of  communication.  Moreover, 
^fhile  the  Government  w:i:}  most  anxious  to  attract 
some  thousands  of  able-bodied  immigrants,  it  was 
scarcely  prepared  to  concede  such  a  measure  of 
autonomy  as  they  demanded.  Finally,  after  months 
of  fruitless  negotiations  and  much  weary  riding, 
the  prospectors  decided  to  leave  the  Argentine,  at 
least  for  a  time,  and  inspect  Paraguay. 

Undeterred  by  the  reckless  mis-statements  w'hich 
the  people  of  the  River  Plate  ports  jealously 
circulated  concerning  the  bloodthirstiness  of  the 
amiable  Paraguayans,  Saunders  and  Leek  boarded 


THE    CHRISTIAN    REPUBLIC  29 

a  river  steamer  and  visited  Asuncion.  President 
Gonzales  and  Dr.  Lopez,  tlie  Foreign  Minister, 
welcomed  them  cordialty  and  at  once  won  their 
hearts  by  agreeing  to  let  them  establish  an 
"imperium  in  imperio  "  secure  against  interference 
from  any  provincial  officials  and  subject  only  to  the 
supreme  Government.  Contrary  to  what  they  had 
been  led  to  believe  in  Buenos  Aires,  they  found  the 
Paraguayans,  and  particularly  the  graceful  women, 
possessed  of  a  sunnier  temperament  and  far  more 
winning  manners  than  the  rather  staid  Argentines. 
The  resident  Englishmen,  of  whom  there  were  quite 
a  number,  assured  them  that  life  and  property  were, 
if  anything,  safer  in  Paraguay  than  in  the  Argen- 
tine, moreover  they  discovered  that  land  of  equally 
good  quality  could  be  purchased  for  less  than  one- 
tenth  of  what  it  would  cost  in  the  latter  country. 

As  he  journeyed  with  them  towards  the  territory 
which  he  considered  would  be  ideal  for  the  New 
Australia  settlement,  Senor  Lopez  informed  the 
prospectors  that  they  were  by  no  means  the  first  to 
dream  of  establishing  a  Socialist  Paradise  in 
Paraguay.  Indeed  his  country  owed  the  compara- 
tive civilisation  of  its  Guarani  inhabitants  to  the 
fact  that  they  were  rescued  from  savagery  at  the 
beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century  by  the  founders 
of  the  "Christian  Republic,"  under  which  100,000 
persons  lived  a  Commimistic  life  for  150  years.  lie 
quoted  the  testimony  of  many  writers,  themselves 
inimical  to  the  Jesuits,  to  pro\e  that  the  citizens  of 
their  thirty  Communistic  towns  enjoyed  a  prosperity 
and  happiness  comparable  with  that  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Bacon's  "New  Atlantis."     Even  Voltaire, 


30  THE   PROMISED   LAND 

that  arch-enemy  of  the  Jesuits,  described  their 
estabHshment  in  Paraguay  as  being  "  in  some 
respects  the  triumph  of  humanity." 

When  they  learned  that  the  wild  Indians  had 
been  brought  into  such  a  state  of  civilisation  under 
Communism,  that  they  not  only  grew  the  raw 
materials  for  textile  fabrics  but  actually  wove  them 
into  garments,  the  pioneers  felt  that  at  least  as  much 
could  be  accomplished  by  highly  intelligent 
Australians.  And  since  the  untutored  Indians,  in 
their  far  inland  wildernesses,  could  construct  well- 
built  towns,  surrounded  by  smiling  fields,  abound- 
ing in  every  kind  of  produce,  how  much  greater 
things  might  be  done  by  Anglo-Saxons  within  a  few 
miles  of  a  railway,  shops  and  civilisation  generally. 


It  is  interesting  to  note,  in  passing,  how  the 
citizens  of  the  "Christian  Republic"  dealt  with 
that  perplexing  problem  of  Socialism — "When  all 
are  equal  how  will  it  be  decided  who  is  to  be  a  dust- 
man, and  who  a  magistrate?" 

"  In  each  settlement  there  were  two  schools,  the 
one  for  the  elements  of  letters,  the  other  for  the 
dance  and  music,"  Chateaubriand*  tells  us,  "As 
soon  as  a  child  reached  the  age  of  seven,  the  priests 
studied  his  character.  If  he  seemed  fitted  to 
mechanical  employment  they  put  him  in  one  of  the 
settlement's  workshops,  and,  in  that,  moreover  to 
which  inclination  directed  him.  He  became  a  gold- 
smith, gilder,  watchmaker,  etc.  The  young  people 
who  preferred  agriculture  were  enrolled  among  the 

*  "  Genie  du  Christianisrae." 


GOD'S    POSSESSION  31 

labourers,  and  those  who  retained  some  of  the  love 
of  roaming  characteristic  of  their  old  life  followed 
the  herds. 

"The  ground  was  divided  into  several  lots,  and 
each  familv  cultivated  one  of  the  lots  for  its  needs. 
There  was  also  a  public  field,  known  as  '  God's 
possession.'  The  fruit  of  these  communal  lands 
was  destined  to  supplement  bad  harvests  and  main- 
tain the  widows,  the  orphans  and  the  sick. 

"  The  magistrates  were  named  by  the  general 
assemblage  of  citizens,  but  only  from  a  list  formed 
by  the  missionaries.  ...  As  suggested  by  Plato, 
the  missionaries  used  to  set  aside  the  children  who 
gave  indication  of  genius  in  order  to  initiate  them 
into  the  arts  and  sciences;  it  was  from  this  excellent 
group  that  the  priests,  magistrates,  and  heroes  of 
the  fatherland  would  one  day  emerge." 

This  nominal  distinction  of  rank  between  mem- 
bers of  the  community  does  not  appear  to  have  bred 
ill-feeling  since  duties  were  assigned  without  dis- 
tinction of  person.  "  In  all  their  duties  the 
missionaries  took  the  lead,"  a  Protestant*  critic  of 
the  Jesuits  admits.  "  Nobles  by  birth  and  learned 
men  fresh  from  the  universities  of  Europe,  might 
be  seen  acting  as  shepherds,  masons,  carpenters, 
and  carrying  on  all  manner  of  common  trades,  for 
the  purpose  of  teaching  and  stimulating  the  natives, 
who  gazed  with  confused  bewilderment  at  the 
strange  spectacle.  The  result  of  all  these  precau- 
tions and  efforts  lo  maintain  a  communit}'  of  goods 
may  be  summed  up  in  a  few  words.  "  The  Indians 
are   poor,   and  yet   lack  nothing.     They    maintain 

*  Rev.  M.  Kaufmann,   "Socialism  and  Communism." 


32  THE  PROMISED  LAND 

among  themselves  perfect  equality,  which  is  the 
strongest  support  of  union  and  public  tranquillity." 
Many  writers  insist  that  the  civilisation  which 
the  Jesuits  so  successfully  established  was  used 
principally  for  their  own  gain,  and  that  the  bulk 
of  the  goods  produced  were  exported  to  enrich  the 
coffers  of  their  militant  order.  If  that  were  so  it 
merely  proves  that  the  wealth  producing  capabili- 
ties of  the  community  were  even  greater  than 
appeared  on  the  surface,  and  that  had  there  been  no 
such  leakages  the  happy  Paraguayans  would  have 
been  more  prosperous  still.  Since  it  was  possible 
for  the  "priest-ridden  savages"  to  do  so  well,  it 
seemed  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  emancipated 
"  New  Australians  " — having  thrown  off  all  super- 
stitious shackles — would  do  still  better. 


When  they  reached  the  magnificent  property 
known  as  the  Lowry  estate,  which  Dr.  Lopez 
proposed  to  put  freely  at  their  disposal,  the  pros- 
pectors' last  doubt  vanished,  and  they  at  once 
decided  that  this  was  the  ideal  site  for  Lane's 
experiment.  As  the  bona-fides,  both  of  the  pros- 
pectors and  of  the  Paraguayan  Government  has 
been  called  in  question,  most  unjustly,  by  critics 
who  know  nothing  of  the  country,  it  is  worth  while 
noting  that  in  an  official  report  on  "New  Australia," 
from  the  British  Legation  in  Buenos  Aires,  the 
concession  is  thus  described*  :  — 

"  The  settlement  is  situated  on  some  risingf 
ground   and   looks   over  a  long  stretch   of  pasture 

*  Foreign  Office.     Annual  Series.     No.  1357. 


CONDITIONS    OF    SETTLEMENT       33 

land  bounded  by  forest  and  dotted  by  clumps  of 
trees.  There  is  something  very  English  in  the 
landscape,  and  this  is  true  of  other  parts  of  Para- 
guay. It  appeared  to  my  companion  and  myself 
that  the  Government  had  treated  the  association 
very  well,  not  only  as  regards  the  quantity,  but  as 
regards  the  quality  of  the  land  conceded.  The 
association  has  secured  100  leagues  (they  have 
already  received  the  titles  for  67  leagues)  of  what 
I  believe  to  be  the  best  land  in  Paraguay.  It  is 
well-watered  and  well-wooded,  and  in  Paraguay 
wherever  there  is  forest  the  soil  is  very  fertile,  and 
will  grow  almost  anything.  The  pasture  land  is 
also  excellent  and  I  was  informed,  on  good 
authority,  that  the  district  now  occupied  by  the 
association  was  requisitioned  by  the  Dictator  Lopez 
during  the  Paraguayan  war,  for  50,000  head  of 
cattle — and  met  the  demand." 

The  conditions  of  settlement  were  generous  in  the 
extreme.  The  Government  undertook  : — (i)  to 
hand  over  to  the  New  Australia  Association,  for 
bona-fide  settlement,  one  hundred*  leagues  of  land, 
free  of  all  charges,  including  survey,  stamps  and 
transfer  fees;  (2)  to  admit  tools,  furniture,  clothes, 
arms  and  ammunition,  seeds  and  anything  else  the 
immigrants  chose  to  bring,  or  desired  to  import 
later,  for  their  own  use,  duty  free ;  (3)  to  give  the 
immigrants  free  railway  transport  for  themselves 
and  their  possessions  to  the  nearest  point  of  their 

•  Originally  40,  but  changed  to  100  a  few  weeks  later.  The 
Government  actually  spent  450,000  dollars  in  buying  out  squatters 
so  that  the  incomers  might  enjoy  absolute  proprietorship  from 
boundary  to  boundary  of  their  vast  estate. 


34  THE   PROMISED  LAND 

concession  ;  (4)  to  grant  local  autonomy,  with  no 
responsibility  except  to  the  Central  Government. 
In  return  the  Association  were  only  required  to 
establish  800  families  upon  the  land,  within  four 
years. 

To  this  proposal  the  prospectors  hastened  to 
agree  and  a  legal  document  was  drawn  up  embody- 
ing its  terms.  After  cabling  the  news  to  Australia 
Leek  and  Walker  remained  to  make  arrangements 
for  receiving  the  first  settlers,  while  Saunders 
returned  to  Australia  in  the  character  of  Joshua  to 
make  the  joyful  announcement.  "  The  land  which 
we  passed  through  to  search  it,  is  an  exceeding 
good  land." 

The  following  are  the  principal  clauses  from  the 
prospectors'  long  and  glowing  report  :  — 

"  Paraguay  has  no  sea-board.  The  capital, 
Asuncion,  is  situated  about  1000  miles  from  Buenos 
Ayres,  by  river,  in  lat.  25.  Its  communication 
with  other  countries  is  by  rivers,  the  Paraguay  and 
the  Parana.  The  Paraguay  river  is  navigable  to 
Asuncion  for  vessels  drawing  9ft.  to  loft.,  all  the 
year  round,  and  for  about  1000  miles  further  for 
vessels  drawing  6ft.  all  seasons  of  the  year.  There 
are  three  regular  steamship  lines  to  Asuncion  which 
run  w'eekly  boats.  Schooners  sail  right  up  the 
river,  as  it  is  miles  wide  nearly  all  the  way. 
Enquiries  made  among  many  people  show  that 
Paraguay,  while  sadly  in  need  of  land  workers 
since  the  war  of  '65,  is  not  a  disturbed  country. 
Its  constitution  has  remained  unchanged  since 
1870,  there  is  universal  suffrage,  religious  liberty 
and  an   Elected  Congress  and  President.     It  does 


A   GLOWING   REPORT  35 

not  have  revolutions.*  We  cannot  speak  too  well 
of  the  manner  in  which  all  classes  treated  us. 
Foreigners  are  protected  by  their  nationality  from 
military  conscription. 

"  The  site  selected  and  which  has  been  secured 
is  situated  about  no  miles  from  Asuncion,  near  a 
place  called  Villa  Rica,  and  within  fifteen  miles  of 
railway  communication.  It  is  on  the  Tebicuari 
river  which  runs  through  it,  passing  under  the 
railway  line,  about  twenty  miles  from  Villa  Rica 
towards  Asuncion.  The  river  is  a  nice  stream  and 
clear  as  crystal.  It  is  navigable  to  our  land  by 
boats  or  rafts,  pushed  by  poles,  while  for  export  we 
could  hardly  get  better  convenience,  very  useful 
where  there  is  a  good  deal  of  valuable  timber. 
We  have  thus  rail  and  water  to  our  door.  Numerous 
smaller  streams  whose  water  rims  all  the  year 
round,  a  fact  somewhat  strange  to  most  Australians, 
are  on  our  land,  affording  any  amount  of  constant 
water  power  when  required. 

"  No  one  that  we  have  met  questions  the  fertility 
of  the  soil,  and  it  is  the  best  watered  country  that 
we  have  ever  seen.  The  high  lands,  or  forest 
lands,    are    generally    of    a    red    sandy    or    loamy 

*  In  this  respect,  as  in  several  others,  the  prospectors  were 
misinformed.  Ju.st  twelve  months  before  they  visited  the  country 
there  was  a  revolution,  of  which  the  following  account  appeared  in 
the  Buenos  Aires  "Standard,"  of  October  23rd,  1891:— "The 
Paraguayan  Revolution  was  not  such  a  nursery  affair  as  at  first 
supposed.  There  was  a  fight  and  several  funerals  after  it.  Most 
of  the  defunct  patriots  appear  to  have  been  Majors,  Colonels  and 
professional  warriors  generally.  Colonels  Osuna  and  Mino,  and 
Major  Vera  and  Deputy  Machain  being  killed." 


36  THE   PROMISED  LAND 

description  covered  with  heavy  timber  of  different 
kinds.  There  are  many  useful  woods,  mostly  hard- 
woods ;  but  there  are  some  soft  woods,  also  cedaf. 
There  is  timber  fit  for  anything.  Our  land  is  mostly 
this  timber  land  with  red,  loamy  soil,  though  there 
is  some  of  it  clear  camp  land. 

"  All  foreigners  agree  that  it  is  remarkably 
healthy  and  that  sickness  is  scarce.  It  is  free  from 
fevers  and  such  like  diseases  generally  met  with  in 
warm  climates.  There  is  a  little  malarial  fever 
sometimes  among  the  native  population  in  the  low- 
lying  districts  close  to  the  big  rivers.  But  this  is 
in  a  great  measure  due  to  the  way  in  which  they 
live  and  to  the  lowness  and  dampness  of  the  soil  in 
those  localities.  Villa  Rica  is  said  to  be  remark- 
ably healthy.  An  Englishman,  Dr.  Botrill,  who 
is  a  London  hospital  physician  of  some  repute  and 
who  has  lived  there  for  some  time  owing  to  ill- 
health,  told  us  he  considered  it  a  remarkably 
healthy  place. 

"The  rainfall  is  better  than  it  is  in  most  coun- 
tries, as  they  are  never  a  whole  month  without  rain 
in  Paraguay,  and  the  heaviest  rainfall  is  in  the 
summer,  which  is  an  advantage  in  a  warm  climate. 
It  is  possible  to  raise  crops  of  some  kind  during  all 
seasons  of  the  year. 

"  The  principal  things  grown  are  tobacco,  sugar- 
cane, cotton,  maize,  coffee,  mandioca,  grapes, 
peaches,  oranges,  lemons  and  vegetables  of  all 
descriptions.  Tobacco  is  the  principal  article 
exported  at  present,  and  grows  splendidly.  An 
acre  of  tobacco  is  said  to  return  ^'20. 

"  The  disadvantages  are  not  having  a  good  local 


STARVATION    niPOSSIBLE  37 

market  and  the  density  of  the  timber  on  a  greater 
portion  of  the  land  which  requires  a  lot  of  labour  to 
clear.  Of  these  disadvantages  the  question  of  local 
market,  so  important  to  the  individual  settlers,  is 
not  of  importance  with  our  settlement  methods. 
Timber  is  in  great  demand  in  the  Argentine,  and 
there  is  a  very  large  saw  mill  at  Villa  Rica.  There 
is  a  certain  market  for  various  products  in  Buenos 
Aires  and  Monte  Video.  The  distance  to  London 
by  water  is  only  twenty-six  days  from  Asuncion, 
much  nearer  than  any  part  of  Australasia.  A 
great  deal  of  the  timber  cleared  would  be  useful 
and  saleable  at  once.  We  will  thus  be  sure  of  a 
certain  remuneration  for  the  labour  of  clearing. 

"  Paraguay,  like  every  other  South  American 
country,  is  no  good  for  those  who  work  for  wages. 
For  those  who  have  land  to  work  on  for  themselves, 
however,  it  is  good.  You  sometimes  hear  of  a 
family  supporting  itself,  and  keeping  a  cow  on  an 
acre  of  land,  but  you  seldom  see  it.  Neither  of  us 
ever  did  until  we  went  to  Paraguay.  It  is  nothing 
uncommon  there.  The  great  settlement  advantage 
is  that  from  the  beginning  we  can  get  fresh  food, 
fruit  and  vegetables  close  at  hand  until  we  grow  our 
own.  We  think  that  an  acre  cleared  in  Paraguay 
will  produce  as  much  as  two  in  most  other  countries. 
We  feel  confident  that  with  enough  capital  to  land, 
sufllcient  tools  and  food  to  keep  us  say  18  months, 
it  will  only  be  sheer  laziness  if  we  don't  prosper. 
And  starvation  is  impossible." 


2(38540 


CHAPTER    IV. 

SAILING  OF  THE   "ROYAL  TAR." 

The  publication  of  tliis  report  produced  a  profound 
sensation  in  Australia.  In  spite  of  all  that  William 
Lane  had  said  and  written  about  his  emigration 
project  there  had  been  a  general  feeling  that  he 
would  not  really  succeed  in  carrying  it  through ;  in 
fact  it  was  believed  by  many  that  the  New  Australia 
Co-operative  Association  was  merely  some  new  and 
ingenious  form  of  "  land-swindle."  But  when  it 
was  known  that  he  had  actually  obtained  a  free 
grant  of  nearly  six  hundred  square  miles  of  land 
on  which  to  found  his  settlement,  public  incredulity 
gave  way  to  consternation. 

Long  before  this  Lane  had  thoroughly  prepared 
his  ground.  Thousands  of  honest  workers,  who 
were  actually  more  prosperous  than  their  "mates" 
in  other  countries,  had  been  hypnotised  by  a  long 
course  of  red-hot  Socialism  into  thinking  them- 
selves unhappy  martyrs  to  the  capitalistic  system. 
In  the  same  number  of  the  New  Australia  Journal 
which  contained  the  prospectors'  report  he  issued  a 
final  manifesto  and  a  strong  appeal. 

"  Immense  populations  are  being  crowded  into 
the  ugly  streets  of  unhealthy  towns,  where  they  are 
handy  for  the  system.  In  the  farming  districts 
men  and  women  sweat  their  lives  out  for  the  mort- 
gagee. In  the  West  men  live  a  peg  lower  than 
blackfellows,  without  wives,    without  homes,   with 

38 


DEGRADING    COMPETITION  39 

Wttle  but  drinking  and  gambling  to  make  a  change 
in  their  empty  hves.  The  small  shopkeepers,  the 
small  employers,  are  little  better  off.  And  it  is 
so  hard  to  live  that  we  are  all  beinsf  driven  to  do 
mean  and  dishonourable  things  in  order  to  sret  an 
advantage  over  some  poor  struggling  fellow- 
creature,  who  is  striving  to  live  as  we  are  ourselves. 
You  know  it  is  so.  Every  man  knows  it  is  so. 
We  are  going  to  stop  this  hateful  struggling,  this 
degrading  competition,  in  New  Australia." 

Now  that  the  opportunity  was  at  hand  to  put  in 
practice  the  whole  hot  gospel  of  Socialism,  Lane's 
pen  became  more  fiercely  inspired  than  ever. 
"Your  Labour  is  a  mere  'commodity,'  your  life- 
blood  must  be  sold  as  so  much  wood  or  wool,"  he 
wrote.  "  Yet  Labour  alone  produces  wealth. 
There  can  be  no  justice  until  Labour  can  work 
without  asking  leave  of  any  and  without  paying 
profit  to  any.  .  .  .  This  ownership  which  causes 
misery  and  vice  and  poverty  and  wretchedness 
unspeakable,  all  the  social  evils  from  which  you 
suffer  and  from  which  the  world  suffers,  is  a  verit- 
able sin.  We  have  lived  wickedly  in  taking  part 
in  a  system  which  is  wicked  and  sinful,  which  is 
brutish,  not  human,  selfish  not  loving." 

Lane  had  another  motive  in  addition  to  securing 
the  mere  material  prosperity  of  those  who  accom- 
panied him.  He  believed  that  the  success  of  his 
venture  would  pave  the  way  at  once  to  the  realisa- 
tion of  "  Socialism  in  our  time."  "  Industrial 
re-organization,"  he  asserted,  "must  be  pioneered 
by  those  who  know  it  to  be  possible  before  faith 
and  hope  can  come  to  the  millions  who  are  really 


40      SAILING  OF  THE  "ROYAL  TAR" 

groping-  blindly  in  the  dark.  New  Australia  is 
such  a  pioneering  movement.  Without  injuring 
any,  without  abandoning  any  principle,  without 
threatening  violence,  or  preaching  submission,  it 
will  prove  to  the  workers  of  the  world  the  value  of 
working  co-operatively,  each  for  all  and  all  for 
each,  under  conditions  which  secure  for  everyone 
the  right  to  work  and  happiness  in  living.  The 
happiness  of  its  members  will  excite  the  emulation 
of  the  vast  multitude  whom  no  theories  can  reach; 
its  methods,  tried  and  proved,  will  be  a  sure  guide 
for  others  to  follow;  and  the  influence  of  its  example 
will  aid  tremendously  in  the  peaceful  and  orderly 
settlement  of  the  social  problem  which  now 
threatens  civilisation  with  utter  destruction." 

The  effect  of  this  manifesto  coupled  with  the 
prospectors' report,  was  electrical.  With  passionate 
eagerness  thousands  clamoured  for  a  place  in  the 
great  exodus,  convinced  that  worry,  and  want,  and 
social  inequality  would  have  no  place  in  New 
Australia.  But  many,  like  the  young  man  in  the 
Scriptures,  "  went  away  sorrowful  "  when  they 
heard  the  financial  conditions.  Since  equality 
was  the  very  essence  of  Lane's  scheme  it  was 
ordained  that  every  man  who  joined  must  put  into 
the  common  treasury  every  penny  he  possessed. 
Businesses,  houses,  land,  all  must  be  sold  and  the 
proceeds  handed  over.  As  a  mark  of  bona-fides 
every  male  member  on  joining  the  Association  was 
required  to  pay  down  the  sum  of  ^lo,  which  was 
non-returnable,  and  before  he  could  set  sail  from 
Australia  each  man  must  make  up  his  contribution 
to  a  minimum  of  ;^6o.     "  We  only  fix  a  minimum 


TOUCHING   CONFIDENCE  41 

from  a  necessity,  so  that  there  may  be  no  danger  of 
failure,  and  all  in  the  settlement  must  start  on  the 
same  footing.  If  any  man  who  wishes  to  join  has 
more  he  must  throw  in  all  he  has.  We  do  not  want 
anybody  who  does  not  feel  ready  to  go  '  mates  ' 
with  everybody  else  that  joins.  Women  are  not 
required  to  pay  anything." 

Of  course  there  were  many  who  wished  to  join  the 
New  Australia  movement  who  did  not  possess  so 
much  as  sixty  pounds.  But  it  was  pointed  out  to 
them  that  they  need  not  leave  with  the  first  party  : 
"  Those  who  cannot  join  at  once  will  have  a  motive 
for  saving  by  joining,  will  be  encouraged  to  make 
a  long  pull  by  the  knowledge  that  their  comrades 
are  at  work,  building  up  the  settlement  and  waiting 
to  greet  them  when  they  come."  The  touching 
confidence  in  his  leadership  which  the  bushmen 
displayed  affected  Lane  himself  to  strong  emotion  : 

"  It  brings  tears  to  my  eyes,"  he  once  wrote  to  a 
friend,*  "  to  see  how  my  bushmen  trust  me,  how 
they  hand  me  over  their  hard  earned  money  without 
a  doubt  or  question  as  to  the  use  I  make  of  it.  I 
would  rather  die  than  betray  such  trust." 

Certainly  nothing  was  further  from  Lane's  mind, 
for  he  was  personally  the  soul  of  honour.  But 
what  a  responsibility  to  undertake  !  Did  it  never 
occur  to  him,  that,  just  possibly  his  theories  were 
wrong,  that  there  might  be  some  small  error  in  his 
calculations  ?  Apparently  not,  for  he  let  people 
sell  up  their  homes  without  a  protest.  Having 
proved  his  own  belief  in  the  movement  by  throwing 
in  the  £1000  he  had  saved  during  many  years  of 

•"Westminster  Review,"  vol.  cxI,  p.  530.. 


42       SAILING  OF  THE  "ROYAL  TAR" 

arduous  labour,  it  did  not  trouble  him  in  the 
slightest  when  business  men  sold  their  shops  for  a 
song  and  selectors  abandoned  their  improvements 
— fruits  of  the  toil  of  years — to  follow  him. 
Perhaps  the  most  remarkable  thing  about  the  move- 
ment w^as  that  it  was  by  no  means  confined  to  the 
poorest  class  of  worker.  Several  tradesmen  contri- 
buted from  ^'400  to  ^1500  in  cheerful  confidence 
that  they  sustained  no  loss,  since  within  a  few  years 
every  member  of  the  Socialist  band  would  be 
rich,  in  happiness  and  material  comfort,  beyond 
the  dreams  of  avarice. 

Of  course  the  Australian  Press  was  not  silent 
about  the  folly  of  the  undertaking.  All,  save  the 
Socialist  journals,  joined  in  denouncing  it  as  mad- 
ness. Although  it  was  one  of  the  principles  of  the 
Association  to  recognise  marriage,  some  realised 
only  too  well  the  fact  that  Socialism  and  conven- 
tional morality  are  absolutely  incompatible.  "  I 
would  rather  see  my  daughter  or  sister  take  a  leap 
off  the  North  Head  than  have  her  join  this  party," 
one  far-sighted  correspondent  wrote  to  the  Sydney 
Daily  Telegraph.  "  Little  do  they  imagine  the 
sorrow  in  store  for  them  and  I  hope  that  it  may  not 
yet  be  too  late  to  interfere  to  save  them  from  their 
fate." 

But  it  was  too  late.  "  New  Australia  "  had 
caught  on,  not  with  the  scum  of  the  slums  of  whom 
the  cities  would  have  been  well  rid,  but  with  the 
pick  of  the  w'orking  men  of  Queensland  and  New- 
South  Wales.  "  There  is  no  denying  the  fact  that 
the  New  Australia  movement  is  calling  from  the 
ranks  of  Australian   labour  many  of  its  best  and 


EMPTY   PATRIOTISM  43 

most    worthy    representatives,"    said    tiie    Sydney 
Daily  Telegraph  sorrowfully. 

When  the  seriousness  of  the  situation  was  real- 
ised, when  it  was  known  that  thousands  were 
prepared  to  follow  provided  that  the  first  contingent 
"made  good"  and  reported  favourably  upon  the 
settlement,  a  strong  appeal  was  made  to  the 
patriotism  of  the  men  in  the  movement.  It  was 
suggested  that  the  Government  should  assign  some 
choice  territory  in  Australia  for  the  great  experi- 
ment in  Socialism  rather  than  that  so  many  sturdy 
citizens  should  desert  the  country.  But  Lane  made 
short  work  of  such  objections;  like  other  honest 
Socialists  he  pointed  out  that  Socialism  and 
patriotism  have  nothing  at  all  in  common. 

"  What  is  one  country  more  than  another  to  the 
man  whose  whole  life  is  one  of  toil  and  poverty, 
and  what  does  Australia  do  more  than  England 
does,  or  any  other  countries  do,  for  the  workers?" 
he  demanded  in  the  New  Australia  Journal.  "The 
Labour  movement  is  world-wide.  It  is  not  a  local 
question  nor  a  national  question,  but  a  life  question. 
If  the  workers  have  not  yet  learnt  this  they  will 
simply  suffer  more  until  they  learn  it,  perhaps  too 
late.  It  is  here,  as  everywhere  else,  the  landless 
have  no  rights,  the  poor  have  no  country  except  in 
name.  In  this  New  Australia  movement  we 
exchange  empty  patriotism  to  a  country  in  which 
we  have  no  share,  for  the  solid  possession  of  a  great 
tract  of  good  land,  secured  under  terms  wdiich  could 
not  possibly  be  secured  here.  On  this  land  we  can 
build  the  settlement  we  seek,  can  exert  our  Labour 
as  will  satisfy  our  needs,  can  produce  not  only  food 


44      SAILING  OF  THE  "ROYAL  TAR" 

and  clothing  and  buildings,  but  articles  to  export 
in  exchange  for  what  we  must  import,  can  have 
plenty  and  be  happy,  and  teach  the  world  a  lesson. 
It  is  our  opportunity.  Are  we  not  to  take  it  ? 
Shall  a  great  movement  drop  because  some  are  still 
foolish  enough  to  mistake  the  real  needs  of 
Labour  ?" 

The  money  rolled  in  so  fast  that  it  was  necessary 
to  establish  a  company  to  take  legal  control  of  it. 
For  form's  sake  "The  New  Australia  Co-operative 
Colonisation  Society  "  was  duly  registered  as  a 
company,  with  a  capital  of  ;^20,ooo  in  ;^io  shares, 
on  which,  however,  it  was  stipulated  that  no  interest 
should  be  paid.  (See  Appendix  B  for  Articles  of 
Association.)  The  directors  were  so  convinced 
that  the  movement  would  be  a  permanent  thing  that 
they  would  not  hear  of  chartering  a  ship  to  take  the 
first  party  to  South  America.  In  "  Freeland," 
Dr.  Hertzka  represents  his  ideal  community  as 
requiring  its  own  fleet  of  noble  steamers  to  bring 
the  constant  stream  of  recruits  from  the  effete  old 
capitalistic  countries ;  the  New  Australians  aimed 
at  following  that  plan,  and,  to  begin  with,  paid 
;^i200  for  a  sailing  ship,  of  600  tons,  the  "  Royal 
Tar."  By  many  members  of  the  Association  it 
was  considered  an  ill-omened  thing  to  embark  in  a 
boat  with  the  words  "  Royal  "  as  part  of  its  name; 
they  were  extremely  anxious  to  re-christen  it,  in 
fact  :  but  it  was  found  that  there  would  be  many 
formalities  to  be  complied  with  and  they  decided  to 
let  the  name  remain. 

In  connection  with  the  "Royal  Tar's"  first 
voyage   there    was   so   much    friction    between    the 


VEXATIOUS   DELAY  45 

leaders  of  the  movement  and  the  authorities,  that 
the  boat  was  delayed  for  two  months  after  its 
advertised  sailing  date,  during  which  time  the 
passengers,  having  sold  their  homes,  were  com- 
pelled to  remain  on  shore  at  the  expense  of  the 
Association.  To  this  day  many  New  Australians 
assert  that  the  vexatious  delay  was  deliberately 
planned  by  the  Government  to  damage  the  move- 
ment, but  the  fact  was  that  the  shipping  officials 
were  anxious  that  nothing  should  be  left  undone  to 
safeguard  the  emigrants'  lives.  The  first  delay 
was  due  to  an  intimation  that  the  barque  would  not 
be  allowed  to  sail  until  she  had  been  fitted  with  a 
new  mainmast,  new  cable  and  anchor,  and  three 
large  new  boats ;  the  second  was  caused  by  the 
discovery  that  the  vessel  had  been  provisioned  for 
little  more  than  the  bare  time  the  voyage  was 
expected  to  take — the  authorities  naturally  enough 
insisting  that  sufficient  stores  should  be  shipped  to 
last,  if  necessary,  for  130  days;  the  third  was 
occasioned  by  the  fact  that  the  vessel  had  not  paid 
its  harbour  dues — an  exaction  insisted  on  strictly 
ir  advance  in  the  case  of  Socialists  ! 

At  last,  however,  all  formalities  were  complied 
with  and  the  boat  was  ready  to  sail.  On  the  eve 
of  its  departure  a  great  farewell  demonstration  was 
held  at  Sydney  at  which  the  speakers  were  Members 
of  Parliament  and  prominent  Labour  leaders. 
There  was  something  ominous  in  the  w'ords  "  for 
the  present  "  on  which  emphasis  was  laid  in  the 
following  official  resolution,  passed  with  acclama- 
tion by  the  assembly  : 

"  That  this  meeting  of  New  South  Wales  citizens 


46      SAILING  OF  THE  "ROYAL  TAR'* 

whilst  deeply  regretting  the  loss  to  Australia  of  so 
many  co-workers  in  the  cause  of  reform,  believes  that 
the  efforts  of  the  New  Australia  pioneers  to  estab- 
lish in  another  land  a  co-operative  settlement  in 
which  there  shall  be  work  for  all  and  overwork  for 
none,  and  where  every  man  and  woman  shall  have 
the  liberty  to  live  under  fair  conditions,  will  prove 
eminently  successful  and  of  great  future  benefit  to 
those  who  are  compelled  for  the  present  to  remain 
in  Old  Australia  :  and  further  desires  to  express  its 
indignation  at  the  action  of  the  authorities  in 
impeding  the  departure  of  peaceful  Australian 
people." 

In  their  enthusiasm  the  local  organisers  in  each 
district  refused  to  allow  their  followers  to  take  with 
them  any  but  the  most  essential  personal  posses- 
sions. The  men  sold  their  saddles  and  the  women 
their  sewing-machines,  things  which  would  have 
been  invaluable  in  their  new  homes.  Everything 
was  sacrificed  for  what  it  would  fetch,  and  the 
money  put  into  the  common  fund.  The  keynote  of 
the  movement  was  faith  in  one's  fellow  man,  but, 
as  in  the  case  Ananias  and  Sapphira,  there  were 
some  who  betrayed  the  trust  reposed  in  them,  and 
"  kept  back  part  of  the  price."  Long  before  the 
boat  was  permitted  to  sail  contingents  from  Queens- 
land, South  Australia,  and  Tasmania  reached 
Sydney,  where  they  had  to  camp  in  the  open  for 
weeks.  When  at  last  they  were  permitted  to  go  on 
board  the  scene  was  of  the  most  remarkable 
description,  a  long  stream  of  pilgrims  wending 
their  way  to  the  ship,  carrying  all  their  worldly 
possessions   upon  their  shoulders.      Among  other 


THE    EMBARKATION  47 

strange  things  embarked  was  a  steam  hammer, 
which  one  of  the  enthusiasts  felt  sure  would  be 
useful  in  the  primaeval  forest!  "There  were  men 
and  women  and  children,"  wrote  a  lively  journalist, 
"boxes,  portmanteaux,  and  tins;  men  struggled 
along  the  road  with  massive  domestic  cargoes  on 
their  shoulders,  women  struggled  with  their  infants, 
and  the  infants  struggled  with  each  other." 

Some  may  have  felt  misgivings  when  the  final 
moment  of  departure  came  but  not  so  William 
Lane.  His  faith  in  the  triumph  of  his  cause  never 
wavered. 

"What  do  we  expect  ?"  he  wrote.  "This  : — for 
every  man  the  right  to  work,  to  every  man  friend- 
ship and  justice,  for  every  man  and  woman  a  fair 
share  of  the  result  of  common  work,  for  each  and  all 
the  opportunity  to  marry  and  have  comfortable 
homes  and  to  live  without  fear  and  to  fill  life  with 
the  pleasures  and  joys  that  can  be  for  each  where 
all  are  content  to  labour  honestly,  for  the  children 
the  healthy  rearing  which  is  every  child's  right. 
That  is  what  we  expect,  and  what  we  can  be  sure  of, 
for  Labour  never  fails  to  produce  plenty  where  it  is 
able  to  work,  and  the  labourers  are  only  struggling 
and  poverty-stricken  where  conditions  block  Labour 
and  deprive  the  worker  of  the  fruit  of  his 
labouring." 

The  hopes  of  all  on  board  were  high  as  the  vessel 
set  sail  from  Sydney,  though  some  of  the  women 
gazed  back  wistfully  at  the  shore  ...  for  it  is  no 
light  thing  to  tear  up  old  associations  by  the  roots 
and  to  say  "Farewell  for  ever  I  "  to  the  land  of 
one's  birth.     However,   each  endeavoured  to  sup- 


48      SAILING  OF  THE  "ROYAL  TAR" 

press  any  outward  sign  of  such  regrets,  for  were 
they  not  about  to  take  part  in  a  fuller,  freer  life,  a 
hundred  times  happier  than  any  they  had  hitherto 
experienced  ?  Were  they  not  about  to  teach  the 
world  a  lesson  ? 


CHAPTER  V  . 

A  MATTER  OF  MORALS. 

Socialists  are  not  fond  of  talking  about  New- 
Australia,  but  when  they  do  its  distressing  failure 
is  accounted  for  by  asserting  either  (i)  that  the 
country  to  which  Lane's  party  migrated  w^as  unsuit- 
able for  white  men  to  settle  in,  or  (2)  that  the  party 
itself  was  made  up  of  visionaries  and  work-shy 
individuals  without  the  necessary  energy  and 
experience  for  pioneering.  The  first  of  these  state- 
ments is  confuted  in  advance  by  the  testimony  of 
the  experienced  prospectors  themselves,  and  by  the 
fact  that  other  Britishers  and  Germans  live  healthily 
and  are  doing  very  well  in  Paraguay ;  to  dispose  of 
the  second  it  is  only  necessary  to  quote  from  the 
Sydney  Bulletin* — a  journal  w'hich  was  utterly 
opposed  to  the  movement  and  tried  hard  to  dissuade 
the  public  from  joining  it — the  follow'ing unsolicited 
testimonial  :  — 

"The  New  Australian  contingent  contains  the 
best  material  for  such  an  experiment  the  world 
could  furnish,  perhaps.  The  work  that  lies  in  front 
of  them  provided  they  are  allowed  to  go  scjuarely 
at  it,  and  it  proves  to  be  worth  doing,  is  just  the 
sort  they  have  been  used  to.  There  are  few  town- 
dwellers  among  the  first  batch,  and  the  majority  of 
those  who  are  now  rolling  their  swags  in  Queens- 
land and  South  Australia  with  a  view  to  the  second, 

•July  22nd,  1893. 

49 


50  A  MATTER  OF  MORALS 

are  of  the  bush.  They  have  been  trained  in  the 
tasks  of  settlement.  Tank-sinkers,  sliearers,  bush- 
carpenters,  station-hands,  with  artisans  used  to  the 
rough-and-tumble  life  of  Australia  will  not  be  easily 
knocked  out." 

If  picked  men  such  as  these,  under  an  absolutely 
honest  leader,  failed  to  "make  good"  in  their 
attempt  it  is  quite  evident  that  the  general  public, 
including  the  unskilled  and  incompetent,  would 
make  a  far  worse  hash  of  a  similar  experiment. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  enthusiasm  with  which 
the  party  commenced  to  lead  the  ideal  life.  Since 
social  inequality  was  swept  away  there  was  not  a 
"Mister"  on  board  the  "Royal  Tar";  everyone 
was  "Jack,"  "Tom"  and  "Charlie,"  or  "Nell," 
"Mary"  and  "Sue."  An  urchin  of  ten  was 
entitled  to  address  William  Lane  as  "  Billy," 
though  the  leader  of  the  movement  was  more  gener- 
ally referred  to  as  "  King  Billy." 

A  good  opportunity  for  the  display  of  brotherly 
feeling  was  afforded  when  the  berths  came  to  be 
allotted.  A  vessel  of  less  than  600  tons  provided 
remarkably  little  cabin  accommodation  for  nearly 
250  persons,  among  whom  there  were  60  single 
men,  and  a  number  of  single  girls,  in  addition  to  the 
"grass  widowers,"  married  couples  and  children. 
Those  who  had  seen  the  tiny  ship  in  Sydney 
Harbour  were  puzzled  to  know  how  so  many 
persons  could  be  stowed  inside  her,  unless  they  were 
stacked  like  cargo,  or  chained  in  densely  packed 
rows  as  in  the  bad  old  days  of  the  slave  trade.  But 
there  were  a  number  of  bush  carpenters  among  the 
pioneers,  who  had  exercised  their  skill  in  turning 


LANE'S   EXAMPLE  5^ 

every  inch  of  the  deep  hold  to  full  account.  In  the 
forecastle  triple  tiers  of  berths  ran  round  the  bulk- 
heads to  accommodate  the  single  men,  the  inter- 
vening space  being  filled  with  tables  which  could 
be  ha\iled  out  of  the  way  overhead  when  not 
required.  In  the  ship's  waist  the  married  couples 
and  children  were  so  closely  packed  that  the 
Sydney  Telegraph  remarked:  — 

""  'Tween  decks  where  the  emigrants  will  live, 
and  eat  and  sleep,  and  have  their  two  months'  being 
are  simply  a  mass  of  plain  deal.  Apart  from  the 
curtains  to  the  cabins  of  the  married  women  and 
the  single  girls,  the  place  is  destitute  of  those 
accessories  which  add  to  the  pleasures  of  life.  It  is 
a  wilderness  of  bare  boards  with  no  entrance  for  the 
sun's  rays  except  what  may  be  afforded  by  the  dead- 
lights. Indeed  a  voyage  in  the  "Royal  Tar"  in 
dirty  weather  round  Cape  Horn  would  be  calculated 
to  drive  anyone  but  an  enthusiast  to  the  verge  of 
gibbering  lunacy." 

There  was  very  little  comfort  on  board  the 
"  Royal  Tar,"  except  in  the  after  deck  cabin  where 
Captain  Logan  and  his  wife  and  daughter  resided. 
Lane  set  an  example  of  unselfishness  by  choosing 
for  his  own  use  one  of  the  smallest  and  worst  placed 
cabins  on  the  boat,  and  most  of  his  flock  good- 
temperedly  accepted  the  positions  allotted  to  them, 
though  it  was  arranged  that  lots  should  be  drawn 
to  settle  who  should  have  the  best  places  if  any 
dispute  arose.  For  the  first  few  days,  however,  till 
the  party  had  found  their  sea-legs  in  fact,  all  was 
perfect  peace.  Such  was  the  anxiety  to  be  good 
Socialists  that  there  was  keen  competition  for  the 


52  A  MATTER   OF  MORALS 

privilege  of  undertaking  the  most  menial  tasks. 
William  Lane  himself  took  his  turn  in  the  cook's 
galley  at  peeling  potatoes.  There  was  not  work 
enough  to  go  round;  all  were  so  eager  to  undertake 
it.  As  every  old  traveller  knows  there  are  few 
more  trying  things  on  board  ship  than  squalling 
infants;  in  the  "Royal  Tar's"  packed  interior 
such  sounds  were  peculiarly  distracting  but  even 
the  confirmed  bachelor  "comrades"  at  first  pre- 
tended to  like  it.  At  least  a  dozen  people  were 
always  willing  to  take  the  naughty  child  from  its 
harassed  mother's  hands. 

Unhappily,  however,  this  beautiful  spirit  did  not 
last  long.  Though  all  were  theoretically  equal  it 
was  found  absolutely  necessary  that  some  should 
give,  while  others  should  receive,  orders.  Though 
all  were  entitled  to  an  equal  voice  in  the  Asso- 
ciation's affairs  it  was  not  considered  practicable 
to  navigate  the  ship  by  vote  of  the  majority  !  Just 
as  the  experienced  skipper  claimed  the  right  of 
dictating  to  everybody  on  matters  which  concerned 
the  safety  of  the  ship,  so  Lane  insisted  on  caring 
for  its  morals. 

***** 

Now  this  question  of  morals  is  one  about  which 
modern  Socialist  writers  are  most  wary  in  admitting 
their  principles.  In  the  old  days  "Free  Love" 
was  boldly  proclaimed  as  an  essential  condition  of 
Socialism,  but  nowadays,  to  avoid  scaring  off  the 
timid  semi-converts — the  Christian  Socialists  and 
so  on — great  care  is  taken  to  relegate  this  phase  of 
Socialism    to    the    background.       As    Mr.    H.    G. 


FREE   LOVE  53 

Wells*  confesses,  so  far  as  English  and  American 
Socialism  is  concerned,  the  assault  on  the  family 
"  has  displayed  a  quite  extraordinary  instinct  for 
taking  cover."  Nevertheless  that  assault  upon  the 
family  is  as  true  to-day  as  ever;  the  chief  difference 
between  the  views  of  modern  Socialists  like  Mr. 
H.  G.  Wells,  and  those  of  the  "  Palc-eo-Socialists  "" 
(as  he  describes  Godwin  and  Mary  Wollstonecraft^ 
Shelley  and  Harriet,  and  even  Mr.  Belfort  Bax) 
appears  to  be  that  the  former  qualifies  the  proposals 
of  the  latter  on  the  subject  of  "  Free  Love  "  by  a 
system  of  State  eugenics. 

English  Socialists  to-day  still  stand  where  their 
Continental  brethren  stood  when  the  Socialist 
Alliance  of  Geneva  resolved;  "The  Alliance 
declares  itself  atheist,  it  demands  the  abolition  of 
all  worship,  the  substitution  of  science  for  faith, 
and  of  Divine  justice  for  human  justice,  the  aboli- 
tion of  marriage  so  far  as  it  is  a  political,  religious, 
judicial,  or  civil  institution." 

Mr.  Belfort  Bax  points  out  the  logic  of  the  posi- 
tion in  his  "  Ethics  of  Socialism"  :  "The  present 
marriage  system  is  bound  up  in  the  general  sup- 
position of  the  economic  dependence  of  the  woman 
on  the  man,  and  the  consequent  necessity  for  his 
making  provision  for  her,  which  she  can  legally 
enforce.  This  basis  would  disappear  with  the 
advent  of  Social  economic  freedom,  and  no  binding 
contract  would  be  necessary  between  the  parties  as 
regards  livelihood,  while  property  in  children  would 
cease  to  exist." 

Again,  in  "  Socialism,"  by  William  Morris  and 
*  "  Socialism  and  the  Family,"  p.  30. 

E 


54  A  MATTER  OF  MORALS 

Belfort  Bax,  we  find,  "  Marriage  is  to  give  place  to 
kindly  and  human  relations  between  the  sexes." 

It  is  interesting  to  note  with  what  heat  leading 
Socialist  writers  deny  that  they  are  tainted  with 
views  similar  to  those  stated  above.  In  "  Socialism 
and  the  Family,"  pp.  44  and  45,  Mr.  H.  G.  Wells 
professes  himself  hotly  indignant  that  the  Daily 
Express  should  suggest  that  he  and  others  were 
involved  "  in  teaching  Free  Love  to  respectable 
working  men."  What  then  does  he  teach?  On 
pp.  29  and  30  of  the  very  work  which  contains  that 
indignant  denial,  he  says:  — 

"  Socialism  involves  the  responsible  citizenship 
of  women,  their  economic  independence  of  men  and 
all  the  personal  freedom  that  follows  that,  it  inter- 
venes between  the  children  and  the  parents,  claim- 
ing to  support  them,  protect  them,  and  educate  them 
for  its  own  ampler  purposes.  Socialism  in  fact  is 
the  State  family.  The  old  family  of  the  private 
individual  must  vanish  before  it,  just  as  the  old 
water  works  of  private  enterprise,  or  the  old  gas 
company.     They  are  incompatible  with  it." 

When  some  critic  suggested  that  he  desired  to 
reduce  humanity  to  the  condition  of  a  stud  farm, 
Mr.  Wells  complained  bitterly  of  that  individual's 
"  thick-headedness  "  and  strove  to  remove  the  bad 
impression  by  declaring  that  Socialism  would  insist 
on  marriage  "  under  conditions."  But  in  the 
following  passage  he  makes  it  clear  that,  by 
"  marriage  "  he  means  a  good  deal  less  than  the 
binding  tie  which  all  save  savage  races  now  insist 
upon.  "Socialism  does  not  present  any  theory 
whatever  about  the  duration  of  marriage.  .  .  .  The 


A   NIGHTMARE   SOCIETY  55 

State  is  not  urgently  concerned  with  these  ques- 
tions. So  long  as  a  marriage  contract  provides  for 
the  health  and  sanity  of  the  contracting  parties, 
and  for  their  proper  behaviour  so  far  as  their  off- 
spring need  it,  the  demands  of  the  Communit}^  as 
the  guardian  of  the  children,  are  satisfied.  That 
certainlv  would  be  the  minimum  marriage,  the 
State  marriage,  and  I,  for  my  own  part,  would  exact 
nothing  more  in  the  legal  contract.  But  a  number 
of  more  representative  Socialists  than  I  are  for  a 
legally  compulsory  life  marriage.  Some — but  they 
are  mostly  of  the  older,  less  definite,  Social  Demo- 
cratic teaching — are  for  a  looser  tie."* 

But  "the  older,  less  definite,  Social  Democratic 
teaching"  makes  a  far  more  popular  appeal  to  the 
masses,  whose  votes  will  control  the  Socialistic 
State,  than  anv  other  version  of  the  "creed."  If 
so  refined  a  man  as  Mr.  H.  G.  Wells  asks  no  more 
than  that  legal  unions  shall  endure  until  the  child- 
ren are  just  old  enough  for  the  State  "  to  intervene 
and  support  them,"  is  it  not  certain  that  the 
unrefined  mob  will  demand  still  less?  Is  it  not  fair 
to  assume  that  the  loosest  form  of  the  "  looser  tie  " 
will  be  the  maximum  enforced  in  his  nightmare 
society  ? 

The  plain  truth  is  that,  as  clearly  stated  in 
"  Socialism,"  by  William  Morris  and  Belfort  Bax, 
"  Under  a  Socialistic  system  contracts  between 
individuals  could  be  free  and  unforced  by  the 
Community.  This  would  apply  to  the  marriage 
contract  as  well  as  others,  and  it  would  become  a 
matter   of  simple  inclination.   .  .  .     Nor   would   a 

*  "  New  Worlds  for  Old,"  pp.  134  and  135. 


S6  A  MATTER  OF  MORALS 

truly  enlightened  public  opinion  freed  from  mere 
theological  views  as  to  chastity  insist  on  the  per- 
manently binding  nature." 

***** 

This  matter  of  morals  was  bound  to  cause 
William  Lane  acute  anxiety,  since  he  was  aware 
that  previous  attempts  to  realise  the  Socialist  dream 
of  an  ideal  State  had  broken  down  from  this  very 
cause.  Though  the  leading  Socialists  agree  that 
marriage  is  a  ridiculous  institution,  as  husband  and 
father  Lane  personally  had  the  greatest  respect  for 
it.  But  he  had  no  guarantee  that  the  sixty 
bachelors  in  his  party  shared  this  sentiment.  Was 
it  not  probable  that,  together  with  the  Socialist 
creed  he  had  himself  disseminated,  they  had 
imbibed  the  logical  notion  that  "communism  of 
goods  leads  as  a  necessary  consequence  to  com- 
munism of  wives,   children  and  parents?" 

Though  he  had  provided  for  communism  of 
goods  and  communism  of  children  Lane  was  deter- 
mined to  preserve  the  conventional  relations 
between  the  sexes  and  had  framed  a  regulation  to 
that  effect.  It  therefore  gave  him  some  anxiety 
when  he  discovered  a  tendency  among  some  of  his 
followers  to  relieve  the  tedium  of  the  voyage  by  a 
little  harmless  flirtation.  He  feared  in  fact  that  it 
might  be  said  of  his  experiment  as  it  was  of  Brook 
Farm;  "They  did  not  seek  to  interfere  with 
marriage,  nay,  they  guarded  that  holy  state  with 
reverence,  yet  the  spirit  of  fraternal  association  was 
found  to  weave  itself,  with  infinite  subtleties,  into 
the  most  tender  relations  of  man  and  woman.  Fear 
came  into  the  common  dwelling." 


A    FATAL    ERROR  57 

One  of  the  first  dissensions  arose  from  the 
women's  objection  to  remain  in  the  stuffy  atmo- 
sphere of  the  holds,  below  the  water  line,  from  sunset 
till  sunrise.  It  was  not  much  fun  for  either  sex  to 
spend  many  hours  cooped  up  in  the  dim  light 
provided  by  a  smoking  hurricane  lamp,  and,  in 
consequence,  many  elected  to  spend  the  greater  part 
of  the  night  on  deck,  discussing  the  beautiful 
principles  of  Socialism  with  some  kindred  spirit 
under  the  open  vault  of  heaven.  If  that  kindred 
spirit  happened  to  be  of  the  opposite  sex,  there 
could  be  no  logical  objection,  since  sex  equality 
under  Socialism  implies  the  permissibility  of  the 
warmest  comradeship  between  any  man  or  woman 
in  spite  of  the  fact  that  either  or  both  may  happen 
to  be  married. 

This  was  a  question,  however,  about  which  Lane 
did  not  profess  to  be  logical.  He  only  believed  in 
liberty,  equality  and  fraternity  within  certain  limits 
and  so  issued  a  decree  forbidding  members  of  the 
gentler  sex  henceforth  to  appear  on  deck  after 
sunset. 

That  was  a  fatal  error  !  On  the  first  night  when 
it  was  put  in  force  the  ladies  held  an  indignation 
meeting,  and  many  of  the  most  straight  laced  among 
them  agreed  that  it  was  an  intolerable  insult,  as 
well  as  an  unwarrantable  act  of  tyranny  to  coop 
them  up  in  such  a  fashion.  Worse  still,  it  was 
discovered  that  William  Lane,  while  taking  counsel 
with  certain  of  the  married  women,  had  not  con- 
sulted any  maiden  ladies  before  issuing  his  decree, 
although  several  of  the  latter  were  full  fledged 
members   of   the    Association    in    their   own    right. 


S8  A  MATTER  OF  MORALS 

Breaking  out  into  active  rebellion  they  stormed  the 
hatchway  and  reminded  their  leader  that  they  had 
an  equal  say  with  him  in  the  conduct  of  affairs,  and 
had  as  much  right  to  order  him  to  his  cabin  as  he 
had  to  order  them. 

One  indignant  young  lady,  stepping  over  to  the 
notice  board,  tore  down  William  Lane's  notice 
before  his  face  and  danced  upon  it.  Just  to  assert 
their  rights,  some  of  the  married  women  openly 
incited  the  younger  girls  to  disobey,  and  a  number 
made  a  point  at  once  of  spending  the  greater  part 
of  the  night  on  deck  in  future,  to  prove  their 
independence.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  however,  the 
ladies  were  quite  mistaken  in  supposing  that  they 
had  yet  any  right  to  a  voice  in  the  control  of  things. 
Before  leaving  Australia  Lane  had  arranged  that 
the  "  Constitution  "  was  suspended,  and  that  he 
was  to  act  (in  association  with  three  staunch  hench- 
men on  whose  support  he  could  rely)  as  Director 
for  the  first  two  years,  with  power  to  dictate  internal 
arrangements.  It  is  true  that  a  two-thirds  majority 
vote  could  displace  him,  but,  as  he  held  proxies  for 
all  members  of  the  Association  still  in  Australia,  his 
single  vote  constituted  a  majority. 

But  it  is  one  thing  to  possess  nominal  power  and 
quite  another  to  be  able  to  enforce  it.  When 
William  Lane's  authority  was  flouted  a  general 
meeting  was  called  to  decide:  "whether  the 
authority  of  the  Chairman  shall  be  respected?" 
Unfortunately  Lane  was  too  seasick  to  attend,  and 
so,  unswayed  by  his  personal  influence,  the 
majority  passed  a  resolution  declaring  that  he  was 
not  to  be  obeyed  !     To  this  William  Lane  retorted 


AN  ABSOLUTE  DICTATOR  59 

by  resigning  office,  whereupon  even  his  bitterest 
opponents  realised  that  they  had  gone  too  far  and  a 
second  general  meeting  passed  a  resolution  request- 
ing him  to  reconsider  his  decision.  Finally 
William  Lane  called  a  third  general  meeting  and 
played  so  well  upon  the  emotions  of  his  erring  flock 
that  they  passed  a  vole  of  confidence  in  his  rule 
without  a  single  dissentient.  The  net  result  of  the 
whole  affair  was  simply  to  contirm  William  Lane  in 
his  authority  as  an  absolute  dictator. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

WHO  WILL  DO  THE  SCAVENGING? 

To  many  of  the  pioneers  it  came  as  something  of  a 
shock  to  reahze  that  they  were  to  be  subject  to  a 
benevolent  despotism,  until  such  time  as  the  second 
contingent  arrived  at  New  Australia,  and  a  quite 
unreasonable  feeling  sprang  up  that  Lane  had  got 
the  better  of  them — unreasonable  because  they  were 
supposed  fully  to  understand  the  arrangement 
before  embarking.  But  it  is  a  curious  trait  of  the 
Socialist  rank  and  file  that  they  are  quite  willing 
blindly  to  accept  the  promises  of  their  leaders 
without  wanting  to  know,  in  detail,  how  much 
individual  liberty  will  be  sacrificed  in  the  process  of 
carrying  them  out. 

Before  the  voyage  was  half  over  an  awkward  split 
had  occurred  in  the  ranks,  and  the  LTtopian  party 
were  sharply  divided  into  two  factions — those  who 
believed  in  Lane  and  were  prepared  to  support  him 
through  thick  and  thin,  and  those  who  were  already 
more  or  less  dissatisfied  with  his  leadership.  The 
latter  section  soon  got  into  such  a  state  of  mind  that 
they  were  prepared  to  believe  themselves  slighted 
and  victimised  whenever  the  shadow  of  an  excuse 
arose.  A  good  opportunity  to  feel  aggrieved  was 
presented  when  Lane  took  stock  of  his  resources 
and  began  to  apportion  tasks  among  his  followers. 

W^hile  on  his  recruiting  mission  in  Australia 
Lane  once  explained;    "At  New  Australia  a  man 

60 


WHEN  ALL  ARE   EQUAL  6i 

may  produce  a  loaf  of  bread  or  a  painting,  but 
there  Avill  be  no  difference  in  the  remuneration  of 
his  labour." 

"Yes,"  interrupted  a  practical  minded  inquirer, 
"  but  who  is  to  do  the  washing  up?" 

*  *  *  *  -x- 

Now  this  question  "  Who  is  to  do  the  washing 
up?"  is  another  of  those  practical  problems  which 
Socialist  theorists  exercise  a  good  deal  of  ingenuity 
in  avoiding. 

In  "  Merrie  England"  j\Ir.  Robert  Blatchford 
devotes  a  portion  of  Chapter  XXIV  to  some  clever 
circumlocution  round  and  about  the  query  "Under 
Socialism:  Who  will  do  the  disagreeable  work? 
Who  will  do  the  scavenging?" 

"  We  have  heard  a  good  deal  of  more  or  less 
clumsy  ridicule  at  the  expense  of  the  Socialist,"  he 
says.  "  We  have  heard  learned  and  practical  men 
laugh  them  to  scorn  ;  we  have  seen  their  claims 
and  their  desires  and  their  theories  held  up  to 
derision.  But  can  anyone  imagine  a  sight  more 
contemptible  or  more  preposterous  than  that  of  a 
civilised  and  wealthy  nation  coming  to  a  halt  in  its 
march  of  progress  for  fear  of  disturbing  the  minds 
of  the  scavengers?" 

It  will  not  be  the  scavengers  alone,  how^ever,  but 
the  "under  dogs"  in  every  calling — at  least  one 
hundred  times  as  numerous  as  the  "top  dogs" — 
who  will  cry  "Halt!"  when  jobs  come  to  be 
distributed.  When  all  are  equal  and  all  clamour 
to  be  artists,  or  inventors,  or  managers,  or,  at  the 
very  least,  foremen,  how  \\ill  ihe  difficulty  be  met? 
In  his  section  on  the  subject  Mr.  Blatchford  calls 


62    WHO  WILL  DO  THE  SCAVENGLXG? 

on  the  shades  of  Cromwell,  of  Langton,  of  Wash- 
ington, and  of  Hampden;  he  ridicules  the  noble 
lords  of  the  British  Parliament ;  he  compares  the 
Conservative  to  Mrs.  Partington  with  her  mop,  but 
he  does  not  answer  his  own  question.  Instead  he 
refers  the  reader  back  to  an  earlier  chapter,  and  to 
Mrs.  Besant's  paper  on  "The  Organisation  of 
Society."* 

Dealing  with  the  latter  first,  the  reader  finds  that 
Mrs.  Besant  merely  re-states  the  problem  as 
follows,  "There  are  unpleasant  and  indispensable 
forms  of  labour  which  one  would  imagine,  can 
attract  none — mining,  sewer-cleaning,  etc.  These 
might  be  rendered  more  attractive  by  making  the 
hours  of  labour  in  them  much  shorter  than  the 
normal  working  day  of  pleasanter  occupations.  .  .  . 

"  Further,  much  of  the  most  disagreeable  and 
laborious  work  might  be  done  by  machinery,  as  it 
would  be  now  if  it  were  not  cheaper  to  exploit  a 
helot  class.  When  it  became  illegal  to  send  small 
boys  up  chimneys,  chimneys  did  not  cease  to  be 
swept,  a  machine  was  invented  for  sweeping  them." 

Quite  so,  but  for  the  present  there  are  numerous 
unpleasant  tasks  which  must  be  performed  by 
manual  labour;  who  will  do  them  now?  It  is  not 
courageous  of  Mr.Blatchfprd  to  hide  behind  a  lady, 
whose  not  very  practical  argument  reminds  one  of 
Dr.  Johnson's  suggestion  to  the  weary  postman 
who  had  still  two  miles  to  walk  to  deliver  a  single 
letter  ("  Why  don't  you  put  a  stamp  on  it  and  post 
it?"  enquired  the  doctor). 

"  For  an  answer  to  this  question  I  must  refer  you 

*  Fabian  Essays. 


AN   UNANSWERED   QUESTION        63 

back  to  my  chapter  on  '  Socialism  and  Slavery,'  " 
says  Mr.  Blatchford. 

Referring  back,  the  reader  finds  Herbert  Spencer 
attacked  for  describing  Socialism  as  "  The  Coming 
Slavery."  "  Mr.  Spencer's  idea  appears  to  be 
that  under  Socialism  the  State  would  compel  men 
to  work  against  their  will,  or  to  work  at  occupations 
uncongenial  to  them,"  Mr.  Blatchford  complains. 
"This  is  a  mistake.  The  State  would  not  compel 
any  man  to  work.  It  would  only  enable  all  men  to 
work  and  to  live  in  peace  and  comfort  by  their 
labour."  Next  he  attacks  Ingersoll  for  saying, 
"  Socialism  destroys  the  family  and  sacrifices  the 
liberties  of  all.  If  the  Government  is  to  provide 
work  it  must  decide  for  the  worker  what  he  must 
do,  etc.  Is  it  possible  to  conceive  of  a  despotism 
beyond  this?  The  human  race  cannot  afford  to 
exchange  its  liberty  for  any  possible  comfort." 

Mr.  Blatchford,  after  roundly  abusing  both  critics, 
defiantly  asserts,  "  When  the  State  found  work  it 
would  not  decide  what  each  man  must  do." 

"  You  will  ask  me  how  a  Socialist  State  would 
apportion  the  work,"  the  author  of  "  Merrie 
England  "  continues,  "  I  ask  you  how  the  work  is 
apportioned  now?" 

It  is  a  time-honoured  debating  trick  to  put  off  one 
awkward  question  by  propounding  another.  In 
that  device  Mr.  Blatchford  takes  refuge  here,  and 
devotes  five  pages  of  close  print  to  abuse  of  present 
conditions,  without  shedding  the  least  light  upon 
the  nature  of  his  proposed  remedy.  The  question 
"  Under  Socialism,  who  would  do  the  unpleasant 
work?"  remains  unanswered  still. 


64    WHO  WILL  DO  THE  SCAVENGING? 

In  "New  Worlds  for  Old"  Mr.  H.  G.  Wells 
sets  himself  a  similar  poser,  "  How  will  you 
Socialists  get  the  right  man  in  the  right  place  for 
the  work  that  has  to  be  done  ?  How  will  you 
arrange  promotion  ?  How  will  you  determine  who 
is  to  engage  in  Historical  research  in  the  Bodleian, 
and  who  is  to  go  out  seaward  in  November  and 
catch  mackerel?"  The  question  is  admirably 
stated,  and  the  earnest  inquirer  looks  for  a  direct 
answer  from  a  writer  who  is  habitually  frank.  He 
is,  however,  once  more  disappointed.  "Through- 
out the  rest  of  this  book  I  hope  that  the  reader  will 
be  able  to  see  growing  together  in  this  aspect  and 
then  in  that,  in  this  and  that  suggestion,  the  com- 
plex solution  of  this  complex  system  of  difficulties," 
says  Mr.  Wells. 

Then,  like  the  rest,  he  darts  away  at  a  tangent. 
The  most  expert  solver  of  Baconian  ciphers  might 
search  the  succeeding  244  pages  in  vain  for  the 
slightest  clue  to  Mr.  Wells'  "  complex  solution." 
Like  all  the  theorists  Mr.  Wells  fails  utterly  to 
explain  how  the  commonest  of  the  practical  pro- 
blems of  everyday  life  will  be  grappled  with  under 
Socialism. 

Yet  the  solution  is  by  no  means  so  complex  as 
Mr.  Wells  asserts.  In  fact  the  answer  is  so  simple 
that  a  child  can  understand  it :  — 

"In  the  Socialist  State  the  friends  of  the  adininis- 
tration  xvill  get  the  pleasant  jobs  and  their  critics 
will  be  set  to  do  the  scavenging." 

***** 
As  a  matter  of  fact  that  precise  question,  "  Who 


APPOINTING    FOREMEN  65 

is  to  do  the  washing  up?"  had  already  caused  a 
certain  amount  of  feeling  among  the  men  and 
women  on  the  "Royal  Tar."  Of  course  there  were 
no  regular  stewards,  and  the  task  of  waiting  upon 
and  washing  up  after  the  250  persons  who  sat  down 
at  meals  had  to  be  apportioned  by  rota.  But  what 
if  one  day's  "  washers-up  "  did  not  "  feel  up  to  the 
mark,"  or  "refused  to  work  beside  that  woman 
Susan  "?  What  if  the  member  of  the  "Shearers' 
Union  "  whose  turn  it  was  to  scrub  decks  protested 
that  it  was  not  his  trade  ?  Trivial  questions, 
perhaps,  but  infinitely  harder  of  amicable  solution 
than  much  bigger  ones  ! 

Before  the  pioneers  reached  South  America  it  was 
necessary  to  appoint  foremen  for  each  department 
of  activity  in  which  they  would  engage  on  their 
arrival,  and  also  to  assign  to  each  of  these  the  group 
of  men  who  were  to  work  under  him.  Before 
sailing  it  had  been  arranged  that  such  matters  of 
detail  would  be  adjusted  by  mutual  agreement. 
Nobody  foresaw  how  unlikely  it  was  that  an 
individual,  who  was  quite  famous  on  the  Downs  as 
a  crack  shearer,  would  consent  to  be  anything  less 
than  a  foreman,  although  there  would  be  no 
shearing  to  be  done  at  New  Australia,  and  he  was 
quite  without  experience  of  any  other  occupation. 
Then  again,  before  any  progress  could  be  made 
with  agriculture  big  clearings  would  require  to  be 
made  in  the  primaeval  forest — but  there  were  no 
members  of  a  "Tree-fellers'  Union"  aboard;  to 
whom  should  this  excessively  hard  work  be  allotted? 
Who,  on  the  other  hand,  would  be  lucky  enough 
to  secure  such  light  labour  as  the  secretarial  work 


66   WHO  WILL  DO  THE  SCAVENGING? 

should  prove  at  first  ?  And  which  of  the  women 
would  have  to  turn  laundress  for  the  benefit  of  the 
sixty  bachelors  on  board  ? 

Those  who  imagined  that  such  questions  as  these 
could  be  settled  in  an  amicable  fashion,  without 
invoking  the  arbitrary  authority  of  the  director  were 
sadly  undeceived.  Ultimately,  of  course,  the  matter 
was  temporarily  decided,  and  a  list  drawn  up 
assigning  the  roundest  possible  pegs  to  the  squarest 
holes  and  vice-versa,  with  the  inevitable  result  that 
fully  one-third  of  the  Utopians  nursed  in  their 
breasts  a  conviction  that  they  were  being  unjustly 
treated. 

"  No  matter  what  was  proposed  by  this  com- 
mittee, or,  for  that  matter,  by  any  committee," 
Mrs.  William  Lane  herself  complained,  "a  large 
section  of  the  members  were  sure  to  flout  it  with  a 
long  string  of  captious  objections." 

The  mere  statement  of  two  distinct  types  of  griev- 
ance will  show  that  Solomon  himself  could  not  have 
given  universal  satisfaction  under  such  conditions, 
(i)  As  responsible  head  of  the  organisation  William 
Lane  could  not  possibly  appoint  as  his  chief  fore- 
men individuals  who  were  in  open  rebellion  against 
him.  Yet  if  those  rebels  happened  to  be  particu- 
larly competent  men  how  could  they  fail  to  believe 
that  they  were  being  victimised?  (2)  Though  all 
were  theoretically  equal,  it  would  have  been  contrary 
to  human  nature  if  the  few  who  had  contributed 
large  sums  to  the  common  fund  had  not  felt  that 
the  Association  was  in  their  debt,  and  that  thev  had 
a  special  right  to  "soft  jobs  "  and  a  share  in  the 
administration.      But — to  say   nothing  of  the   fact 


ACUTE   DISSENSION  67 

that  ex-shopkeepers  are  of  less  use  than  ex-navvies 
in  such  work  as  forest-clearing — it  would  have  been 
fatal  to  the  movement  for  such  undemocratic  claims 
to  be  conceded.  Nevertheless,  since  human 
nature  is  human  nature,  how  could  a  business  man 
who  had  put  in  several  hundred  pounds  fail  to  feel 
aggrieved  when  he  was  instructed  to  form  one  of  an 
ordinary  labouring  gang,  bossed  by  a  brawny 
artisan  who  had  only  contributed  his  bare  minimum 
to  the  enterprise  ? 

Quite  apart  from  the  causes  of  quarrel  between  a 
section  of  the  New  Australians  and  their  leader, 
further  acute  dissension  broke  out  among  certain  of 
the  Socialists  themselves  over  this  question  of 
contributions.  In  the  agreement,  which  all  signed 
before  they  were  admitted  to  membership,  it  was 
laid  down,  "  Every  member  of  the  Association,  by 
act  of  joining  the  Association  agrees  to  subscribe 
to  the  funds  of  the  Association  all  he  may  possess 
when  he  is  finally  enrolled,"  and  most  had  honestly 
adhered  to  this  arrangement.  But  some  days 
before  the  "Royal  Tar"  had  left  Sydney  the 
folowing  paragraph  appeared  in  the  Sydney  Daily 
Telegraph,*  "It  is  stated  there  is  one  man  among 
the  voyagers  who  has  not  staked  everything  on  the 
success  of  the  new  system,  but  has  kept  some  landed 
property  he  possesses  in  Brisbane  as  a  stand-by  in 
case,  at  any  time,  he  should  want  money  to  return 
to  Queensland."  Naturallv  those  who  saw  this 
statement  felt  incensed  against  the  unknown 
individual  who  "  had  kept  back  part  of  the  price  " 
and  as  the  voyage  proceeded  at  least  half  a  dozen 

•July  11,  1893. 


68    WHO  WILL  DO  THE  SCAVENGING? 

persons  were  accused  of  being  the  guilty  party. 
Though  all  hotly  denied  the  accusation  the 
suspicion  remained  that  a  few  of  the  Socialists 
had  not  burnt  their  boats  like  the  others,  but  had 
merely  moored  them  out  of  sight  where  they  might 
be  useful  for  retreat  if  necessary. 

Since  the  last-moment  repairs,  alterations,  and 
extra  provisioning  of  the  "Royal  Tar"  had  cost 
roughly  ;{,'i200  William  Lane  was  obliged  to  embark 
with  only  about  twenty-five  pounds  in  the  exchequer 
— not  nearly  sufficient  for  the  party's  immediate 
needs  when  they  reached  Monte  Video.  As  some 
members  of  the  party  still  had  a  few  odd  coins  in 
their  possession,  it  was  decided — contrary  to  Mr. 
H.  G.  Wells'  belief  that  "  Modern  Socialism  has 
no  designs  upon  the  money  in  a  man's  pocket," — 
to  take  up  a  final  collection  of  everyone's  last 
halfpenny. 

Theoretically,  therefore,  there  was  no  money  on 
the  ship  except  that  in  Lane's  possession  when  the 
New  Australians  stepped  ashore  at  Monte  Video— 
where  the  press  went  into  raptures  over  the  looks 
of  the  "exceptionally  beautiful  and  comely" 
Australian  women.  It  soon  became  evident,  how- 
ever, that  a  few  of  the  Socialists  had  indeed 
retained  a  private  hoard  for  use  in  cases  of  emerg- 
ency. Their  perfidy,  already  suspected,  was  proved 
when  a  number  of  them  returned  to  the  boat  quite 
expensively  intoxicated.  Had  it  not  been  for  the 
bad  impression  that  such  a  move  would  have 
created  in  Australia  they  would  doubtless  have  been 
expelled  at  once  from  the  community.  Lane  shrank 
from  such  an  extreme  for  the  present,  however,  and 


ZEALOUS  OFFICIALS  69 

the  sinners  were  let  off  with  a  severe  reprimand. 
Mutual  recriminations  necessarily  follow^ed  this 
revelation  of  bad  "mateship,"  and  the  split  in  the 
camp  was  daily  widened. 

When  the  necessary  funds  arrived  from  Sydney, 
and  the  party  embarked  for  the  1300  mile  trip  up 
the  broad  river  to  Asuncion,  another  incident,  small 
in  itself,  stirred  up  still  more  ill-feeling.  During 
the  wearisome  voyage  from  Australia,  of  about  60 
days,  the  children  had  tasted  none  but  the  plainest 
food  and  their  parents  were  anxious  to  give  them  a 
little  treat.  Since  there  was  no  money  available 
for  the  purpose,  some  of  them  bartered  various 
personal  belongings  for  a  barrel  of  native  molasses, 
which  young  and  old  pronounced  delicious.  But 
alas  !  one  of  those  in  authority  declared  that  the 
molasses  contained  a  certain  percentage  of  alcohol, 
and  was  therefore,  according  to  the  strict  letter  of 
the  New  Australian  law,  prohibited.  Disregarding 
the  children's  tears,  their  mothers'  protests,  and 
the  stronger  language  of  their  fathers,  the  newly 
elevated  officers  seized  the  barrel  and  heaved  it  over- 
board where  it  could  harm  the  morals  of  none  but 
the  crocodiles  ! 


CHAPTER   VII. 

THE  ARRIVAL  IN  PARAGUAY. 

Asuncion  did  not  very  favourably  impress 
Australians  accustomed  to  the  splendid  buildings 
of  Melbourne  and  Sydney,  though  the  ruins  of 
many  fine  structures  attested  the  fact  that  it  was 
once  a  busy  and  prosperous  city.  But  they  were 
charmed  by  the  cordial  welcome  prepared  by  the 
citizens  for  "the  downtrodden  Britishers^  who  loved 
liberty  so  much  that  they  had  forsaken  their  distant 
homes  to  commence  life  again  in  the  free  air  of  a 
South  American  republic!"  There  is  probably  no 
country  in  the  world  so  generous  as  Paraguay  in  its 
treatment  of  immigrants ;  on  this  occasion  the 
authorities — who  had  lent  the  Opera  House  as  a 
temporary  home  for  Lane's  party — went  even 
further  than  usual,  for,  in  the  words  of  a  Foreign 
Office  Report,*  "they  knew  the  merits  of  the  British 
colonist,  and  these  Australians  taken  altogether 
were  as  fine  a  set  of  men  and  women  as  it  was 
possible  to  collect  anywhere,  and  of  a  stamp  much 
superior  to  any  emigrants  yet  seen  in  South 
America.  Everybody  who  saw  them  had  been 
struck  by  their  manners,  their  appearance  and  their 
intelligence.  .  .  .  They  appeared  to  be,  in  fact, 
the  very  men,  representing  as  they  did  various 
trades,  and  knowing  their  business  well,   to  help 

*  Miscellaneous  Series,  No.  358,  of  1895. 

70 


DAZZLING   DELIGHTS  71 

Paraguay  on  to  that  road  to  recovery  so  earnestly 
desired." 

In  the  streets  and  the  market  place  of  Asuncion 
the  new-arrivals  saw  hundreds  of  merrv,  white- 
robed  women,  hatless,  bootless,  and  clad  in  a  single 
garment,  but  few  men.  Naked  children  played 
among  the  refuse  in  the  gutters,  and  a  few  lazy 
males,  wearing  long  ponchos  and  enormous  spurs, 
lolled  in  the  shade  while  the  women-folk  laboured 
in  the  sun.  The  Australians  looked  with  scorn 
upon  the  picturesque  drones,  but  were  not  ill-pleased 
at  this  positive  proof  of  the  laziness  of  Paraguay's 
inhabitants.  "There  will  be  all  the  more  chance 
for  us,"  said  they. 

Whatever  Lane's  personal  motives,  the  thousands 
whom  he  had  influenced  in  favour  of  the  New 
Australia  movement  were  not  desirous  of  joining 
with  the  sole  notion  of  teaching  the  world  a  lesson. 
The  whole  force  of  the  Socialistic  appeal  to  the  man 
in  the  street  lies  in  its  promise  of  greatly  increased 
material  prosperity.  The  "Royal  Tar"  Socialists 
w'ould  never  have  left  their  homes  without  the  con- 
viction that  the  movement  was  going  to  pay.  It  is 
safe  to  say  that  the  Socialist  creed  would  make  few 
converts  were  it  not  for  the  dazzling  delights  which 
Socialist  writers  habitually  promise.  It  rarely 
occurs  to  the  rank  and  file  that  the  step  to  State 
Socialism,  once  made,  would  be  irrevocable,  even  if 
it  should  lead  to  absolute  ruin. 

"  Th»y  were  going  to  join  a  little  community 
which  would  be  sure  to  thrive,  and  where  they  and 
the  rest  of  their  family  might  live  together  for  the 
rest  of  their  lives  in  peace  and  comfort,  without  any 


72        THE  ARRIVAL  JN  PARAGUAY 

need  to  separate,  without  any  thought  of  the 
morrow.  They  did  not  apparently  give  themselves 
the  trouble  to  understand  the  conditions  they  signed 
although  it  was  decided  that  no  man,  were  he  to 
withdraw  from  the  membership,  might  reclaim  his 
donation  after  it  had  been  made.  It  was  enough 
for  them  what  their  leaders  said,"  wrote  the  Second 
Secretary  of  the  English  Legation  at  Buenos  Aires, 
after  he  had  visited  New  Australia. 

"Their  hopes  were  raised,  their  impressions 
dazzled,"  the  same  writer  shortly  continues,  "by 
accounts  which  various  writers  had  given  of  the 
wealth  and  fertility  of  the  soil,  and  by  reports  which 
had  appeared  in  a  newspaper  started  by  the  associa- 
tion called,  The  New  Australia.  Paraguay  was 
destined,  so  they  were  told,  to  be  selected  in  the 
near  future  as  the  seat  of  central  government  for  a 
Federated  Republic  of  the  whole  of  the  South 
American  nations,  the  greatest  republic  the  world 
has  ever  seen,  greater  by  numbers,  extent,  and 
riches  than  either  France  or  North  America.  The 
forests  abounded  in  all  kinds  of  valuable  woods, 
there  was  an  unfailing  market  down  the  river,  and 
soon  the  day  would  come  when  Europe  would  have 
to  go  to  the  forests  of  the  Parana  and  Paraguay  for 
her  timber  supplies.  Cheap  lines  might  easily  be 
built,  which  would  connect  the  colony  with  the 
Amazon  and  her  tributaries,  and  the  largest  con- 
tracts might  be  taken  and  fulfilled.  Cotton,  rice, 
and  maize  might  easily  be  raised  and  as,  in  a  few 
years,  machinery  might  be  imported,  so  the  place 
would  become  a  manufacturing  as  well  as  an 
agricultural  settlement. 


NOVEL  SURROUNDINGS  73 

"  Then  there  was  a  vast  field  of  enterprise  in  the 
improvement  of  cattle,  and  what  with  perfumes  and 
dves,  tobacco  and  mate,  the  introduction  of  which 
into  Eurc^pe  might  be  said  to  be  an  assured  success, 
it  would  be  a  bold  man  who  would  dare  to  predict 
that  failure  was  in  store  for  the  New  Australian 
Colony." 

In  spite,  therefore,  of  the  general  feeling  of  strain 
there  were  not  yet  any  secessions.  For  his  part 
William  Lane  believed  that  now  the  wearisome 
voyage  was  over,  and  there  was  plenty  of  hard 
work  to  be  done,  petty  squabbles  would  be  forgotten 
and  the  joy  of  working  "one  for  all  and  all  for  one" 
would  quickly  heal  all  differences.  The  essential 
thing,  he  realized,  was  to  reach  the  concession  as 
soon  as  possible  and  put  an  end  to  some  of  the 
friction  by  separating  warring  factions  as  far  as 
possible  from  one  another.  As  there  were  certain 
legal  formalities  to  be  complied  with,  he  remained 
behind  in  the  capital  for  a  few  da3'S,  and  the 
temporary  leadership  of  the  pilgrims  devolved  upon 
his  principal  lieutenants. 

It  was  a  great  relief  to  all  to  feel  terra-firma 
beneath  their  feet  again,  and  jaded  spirits  were  much 
refreshed  by  the  keen  interest  the  travellers  took  in 
their  novel  surroundings.  When  they  journeyed 
on  the  train  which  ran  three  times  a  week  to 
Caballero,  passing  magnificent  forests  and  well 
watered  grazing  grounds,  so  different  from  the 
dried-up  back-blocks  of  Australia,  they  waxed 
enthusiastic  over  the  prospect  before  them.  At 
Caballero  they  dumped  their  possessions  into 
"  caretas  "  or   bullock-carts,  and  set   off   over   the 


74        THE  ARRIVAL  IN  PARAGUAY 

mountain  track,  towards  the  land  of  promise. 
Australians  are  accustomed  to  driving  bullocks  by 
means  of  heavy  whips,  but  in  Paraguay  the  goad 
is  used — a  long  bamboo  pole  suspended  over  the 
animals'  backs  and  provided  with  a  four-inch  steel 
point.  At  first  the  pioneers  revolted  against  using 
this  cruel  instrument  but,  finding  the  bullocks 
feared  nothing  else,  they  soon  learned  to  inflict 
wicked  wounds  without  a  tremor.  Their  route  took 
them  through  remarkably  picturesque  country. 
Orange  trees  laden  with  fruit  grew  by  the  way-side, 
bananas  were  equally  plentiful,  pineapples,  guavas, 
.  and  other  tropical  products  were  freely  at  the  dis- 
position of  the  weary  travellers.  Red  and  yellow 
macaw  parrots  and  other  birds  of  gay  plumage 
screamed  overhead  and  butterflies  of  gorgeous 
colouring  flew  in  and  out  among  the  trees.  At 
first  the  contemplation  of  all  these  natural  beauties 
gave  the  pioneers  considerable  satisfaction,  but, 
when  the  track  they  were  following  dwindled 
suddenly  to  a  narrow  footpath,  on  the  outskirts  of 
some  dense  forest  w'hich  barred  further  progress, 
they  began  to  be  perplexed. 

"According  to  the  prospectors'  report,  our  con- 
cession is  within  fifteen  miles  of  the  railway,"  they 
said.  "  We  must  surely  have  come  that  distance 
and  ought  to  be  within  hail  of  the  advance  party. 
What  is  the  meaning  of  this  forest  before  us,  and 
what  has  become  of  the  road?" 

Their  feelings  can  be  better  imagined  than  des- 
cribed when  they  learned  that,  while  New  Australia 
was  within  fifteen  miles  of  the  line,  as  the  crow  flies, 
the  fact  that  a  bottomless  morass  intervened  made 


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FURTHER    DISILLUSIONMENT      75 

it  necessary  to  follow  a  circuitous  route  of  nearly 
forty  miles.  A  greater  part  of  this  forty  mile  route 
moreover,  lay  through  forests  into  which  no  bullock 
cart  could  penetrate  until  a  "picada"  had  been  cut. 
In  fact  it  would  take  the  able-bodied  men  of  the 
party  about  three  days  to  hew  down  sutlficient  trees 
on  either  side  of  the  footpath  to  permit  the  broad 
"  caretas  "  to  pass.  Of  course  this  task  presented 
no  insuperable  diflficulties  to  Australian  bushmen 
accustomed  to  such  w'ork,  but  the  monkeys,  which 
congregated  in  the  tree  tops  to  watch  the  progress 
of  the  work,  heard  some  vivid  language  used  in 
relation  to  the  prospectors'  oversight  in  omitting 
such  important  details  from  their  statement. 

There  was  a  further  disillusionment  in  store  for 
the  pioneers,  on  reaching  the  river  Tebicuari,  which 
they  had  been  told  flowed  through  their  property. 
It  was  naturally  a  disappointment  to  men  who 
"had  imagined  that  the  Tebicuari  was  one  of  those 
noble  broad  flowing  rivers,  they  had  so  often  read 
of,  and  expected  to  see  in  South  America,  bordered 
by  a  dense  forest  of  valuable  trees  waiting  only  to 
be  felled,  who  had  thought  that  they  would  have 
been  able  to  start  work  at  once  and  float  the  timber 
down  to  the  nearest  market,  who  had  dreamed  of  a 
large  trade  to  be  established  in  the  near  future,  and 
steamers  plying  busily  up  and  down,  to  find  that 
the  river  was  merely  a  stream  only  navigable  by 
flat-bottomed  vessels,  and  that  the  settlement  was 
still  some  twenty  miles  distant."  Since  it  is  the 
universal  practice  in  that  part  of  Paraguay  to  con- 
vey squared  logs  to  the  saw-mills  by  bullock  cart, 
the  distance  of  the  "crystal  clear  river"  from  their 


76       THE  ARRIVAL  IN   PARAGUAY 

concession  made  no  ultimate  difference  to  the 
colonists,  but  they  naturally  felt  that  they  had  been 
misled  in  this  respect  also,  and  said  further  harsh 
things  about  their  unfortunate  leader. 

The  unbridged  river  was  crossed  with  difficulty, 
the  women  and  children  remaining  in  the  bullock 
carts  which  were  supported  by  poles  passed 
between  the  spokes  of  the  wheels,  with  projecting 
ends  resting  on  canoes,  the  latter  being  drawn 
across  by  the  swimming  bullocks.  Some  low-lying 
mud  flats  that  recent  rain  had  converted  into  a 
quagmire  were  next  negotiated.  Occasionally  the 
"caretas"  sank  to  their  axles  in  deep  mud  holes,  and 
had  to  be  unloaded  in  the  swamp  before  they  could 
be  extricated.  At  such  times  millions  of  mosquitoes 
descended  upon  the  wayworn  travellers  and  nearly 
drove  them  mad.  Such  little  troubles  as  these  are 
incidental  to  pioneering  the  whole  W'Orld  over;  it 
would  have  been  unreasonable  for  the  settlers  to 
expect  to  find  macadamised  roads  and  a  light 
railway  already  in  existence ;  it  was  their  intention 
to  provide  such  things  by  their  own  energies  when 
a  few  thousand  more  of  their  mates  had  arrived. 
At  the  same  time  some — among  the  women  parti- 
cularly— could  not  help  contrasting  their  many 
difficulties  w-ith  the  easy  progress  made  by  the 
pioneers  in    Hertzka's  "  Freeland." 

"  From  thence  onward  it  was  as  if  our  feet  and 
the  feet  of  our  beasts  had  wings.  The  pure 
invigorating  air  of  this  beautiful  tableland  freshened 
by  the  winds  from  the  Kenia,  the  pleasant  road  over 
the  soft  short  grass,  and  the  sumptuous  and  easily 
obtained  provisions,  enabled  us  to  make  our  daily 


FATAL   INDECISION  77 

marches  longer  than  we  had  yet  done,"  relates  the 
author  of  that  fiction,  who  appears  to  think  that  the 
very  mountains  will  level  themselves  to  mark  their 
approval  of  a  Socialist  regime. 

As  if  the  difficulties  of  travel  were  not  enough, 
matters  were  made  worse  by  the  fact  that  there  was 
now  so  much  dissension  that  it  was  impossible  to 
come  to  an  unanimous  agreement  upon  the  smallest 
matter.  When  they  were  nearing  the  boundaries  of 
their  concession,  an  advance  party  was  sent  a  few 
hours  ahead  of  the  main  body  to  select  a  camping 
ground,  and  cut  forks  and  ridge  poles  for  the  tents. 
As  night  was  coming  on,  and  there  seemed  every 
prospect  of  a  downpour,  it  was  essential  that  no  time 
should  be  lost.  But  nothing  could  be  decided 
without  the  formality  of  a  council,  and,  as  usual, 
opinion  was  divided.  Some  favoured  a  hill  on  one 
side  of  the  track,  others  preferred  that  on  the  other. 
While  they  argued  there  came  the  sudden  fall  of 
night,  and  they  were  compelled  to  encamp  in  the 
valley.  When  the  "  careias  "  arrived,  stores  were 
unloaded  and  tents  hurriedly  put  up,  but,  alas  !  for 
their  fatal  indecision,  a  storm  of  wind  and  rain 
descended  and  beat  furiously  upon  them  in  their 
unsheltered  position.  One  of  the  pioneers  wrote  to 
an  Australian  paper  as  follow^s  : — "I  was  in  the 
galley  getting  our  evening  meal  when  there  came  a 
squall  of  wind.  We  were  in  terror  lest  the  tent 
should  blow  away  altogether.  Tea  was  forgotten, 
and  we  used  all  our  efforts  in  trying  to  hold  our  tent 
down  to  the  ground.  The  wind  lulled  a  bit  and  we 
went  to  bed.  We  got  drenched  as  we  lay  there,  but 
it  was  no  use  turning  out.      When   I  got  out  my 


^  78        THE  ARRIVAL  IN  PARAGUAY 

pyjamas  clung  to  me  as  though  I  had  taken  a  swim 
in  them.  Fortunately  the  rain  only  lasted  that  day, 
and  although  we  had  to  get  into  a  wet  bed  the  next 
night,  the  sun  soon  shone  again." 

Another  night  the  single  women,  who  occupied 
a  tent  by  themselves,  were  terrified  almost  out  of 
their  wits  by  a  terrifying,  long-sustained  cry,  which 
they  were  convinced  was  that  of  a  tiger  lusting  for 
their  blood.  The  animal  prowled  quite  close  to 
their  tent,  and  they  expected  every  moment  to  be 
eaten  up.  For  the  rest  of  that  night  armed  men 
patrolled  the  camp,  and  fires  were  kept  burning 
brightly  to  scare  away  savage  beasts.  In  the  morn- 
ing the  animal  whose  awful  note  had  so  alarmed  the 
sleepers  was  found  to  be  a  donkey  fraternally 
anxious  to  greet  them.  It  seems  that  in  parts  of 
Australia  that  useful  animal  was  little  known,  so 
that  the  ladies  did  not  recognise  his  welcoming 
note. 

Having  had  so  bitter  an  experience  of  Paraguayan 
rain  the  colonists  turned  all  their  energies  at  once 
to  the  task  of  building  houses.  No  stone  of  any 
description  could  be  found  so  they  were  forced  to 
adopt  the  native  mode  of  construction.  Rough 
hewn  corner  posts  of  hard  wood  were  first  put  in 
and  connected  by  means  of  withies  and  vines.  On 
this  light  basket  structure  coat  after  coat  of  "  pug  " 
(made  by  mixing  the  red  clay  with  water)  was 
daubed.  Half  a  dozen  men  would  be  employed  in 
treading  the  pug,  as  Eastern  people  tread  the  wine- 
press, to  mix  it  well  and  bring  it  to  the  required 
consistency.  Others  would  lift  masses  of  the  pug 
and  throw    it    against    the    wicker    work.       When 


BUILDING  MUD  HUTS  79 

the  whole  side  was  unevenly  covered  it  w^ould  be  left 
to  harden  in  the  sun,  and  a  second  dressing  applied 
next  day.  After  the  application  of  several  thick 
coats  within  and  without,  the  whole  w^as  carefully 
smoothed  over  and  allowed  to  bake  by  the  heat  of 
the  sun  into  a  very  substantial  wall.  Roofs  were 
made  either  of  thatch  or  of  shingles  (wooden  tiles). 
Naturally  it  was  not  suggested  that  these  mud  huts 
should  serve  permanently  for  human  beings  to  live 
in.  It  was  intended  to  utilize  them  as  barns  or 
cowsheds  when — in  a  few  months'  time — more  sub- 
stantial homes  had  been  put  up.  As  will  presently 
appear,  how^ever,  the  community  never  had  time 
to  spare  between  its  perpetual  wrangles  to  erect 
civilised  buildings,  and  some  of  the  survivors  of  the 
experiment  still  live  in  the  ruins  of  the  patched  and 
repaired  original  mud  huts  to  this  day  ! 

In  the  first  instance  the  builders  concentrated  their 
attention  upon  a  large  hall,  144  ft.  by  20  ft.,  divided 
into  twelve  compartments,  each  to  house  one 
family.  This  building  was  to  be  the  centre  of  the 
township,  which  was  already  being  laid  out  in 
quarter  acre  allotments,  each  with  a  frontage  of 
66  ft.  and  a  depth  of  165  ft.  Those  in  authority 
strained  every  nerve  to  erect  a  weather-proof  house 
as  soon  as  possible,  to  prevent  the  colony's  posses- 
sions from  spoiling,  and  to  receive  the  Government 
officers  in  state  when  they  came  to  pay  an  official 
visit  to  the  new  colony. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

EARLY  DAYS  AT  NEW  AUSTRALIA. 

A  FEW  days  after  the  arrival  of  the  Sociahsts  the 
Official  Gazette  in  Asuncion  published  a  notice 
constituting  New  Australia  as  a  separate  district, 
not  subject  to  the  control  of  the  local  magistrates  at 
Ajos  or  at  San  Jose.  In  order  that  they  might  have 
proper  control  over  their  land  the  colonists  were 
allowed  to  nominate  three  of  their  members  to  hold 
official  positions.  To  the  principal  office  of 
Administrator  (executive  officer  for  enforcing  law 
and  registering  births,  deaths,  and  marriages) 
William  Lane  was  appointed,  with  Tozer  as  deputy 
magistrate.  Many  of  the  Socialists  had  the 
strongest  objection  to  the  elevation  of  three  of  their 
number  to  positions  of  authority  over  the  rest,  but 
they  submitted  to  the  arrangement  when  told  that  it 
was  the  only  way  they  could  guard  against  outside 
interference.  Gradually  they  hoped  to  educate  the 
Government  to  an  appreciation  of  the  blessings  of 
absolute  equality.  A  date,  October  nth,  was 
assigned  for  the  official  opening  of  New  Australia. 

When  the  day  came  for  the  colony's  formal 
recognition  the  large  hall  was  still  unfinished;  in 
fact  it  was  only  partially  thatched.  A  tarpaulin  was 
thrown  over  the  unfinished  end  of  the  place,  a  table 
was  knocked  together  out  of  boxes,  and  a  thirty  foot 
flag  pole  was  erected  to  receive  the  tricoloured  flag 
of  Paraguay.     Alf.  Walker  had  been  appointed  to 

80 


THE    PARAGUAYAN   FLAG  8i 

conduct  the  important  Government  officials  to  the 
colony.  The  party  consisted  of  Dr.  Lopez,  Minister 
for  Foreign  Affairs,  the  Secretary  to  the  President, 
the  Gefe  Politico  of  Ajos,  and  other  notables, 
escorted  by  a  military  officer  with  four  soldiers. 

After  breakfast,  then,  on  the  morning  of  the  nth 
October,  the  sounding  of  a  horn  proclaimed  that  the 
Government  party  was  at  hand.  The  little  caval- 
cade advanced  at  the  trot  and  halted,  without 
dismounting,  till  Lane  came  forward  to  receive 
them.  Then  the  Minister  and  his  suite  were  con- 
ducted into  the  hall,  while  the  soldiers  tethered  their 
horses  in  the  orange  grove.  Dr.  Lopez,  a  good- 
humoured  man,  about  thirty-eight  years  of  age, 
with  a  round,  red  face,  might  have  been  taken  for 
an  English  squire.  When  he  had  accepted  what 
refreshments  the  colonists  could  offer  the  horn 
sounded  again  for  all  to  assemble. 

After  the  trustees  and  committee,  consisting  of 
the  foreman  of  each  department,  had  been  intro- 
duced to  the  Minister  he  read  a  proclamation,  which 
the  President's  secretary  interpreted.  The  soldiers 
were  drawn  up  and  the  Minister  unfolded  a  Para- 
guayan flag.  Each  soldier  took  a  corner  and  thus 
carried  it  fifty  yards,  the  party  following.  "  Then, 
facing  about,  the  officer  took  the  flag,  the  Minister 
and  Mr.  Lane  linked  arms  and  advanced  to  the 
flagstaff,  the  party  following  them.  The  halyards 
were  looped  on,  and  the  two  hauled  together."* 
As  the  flag  with  its  stripes  of  red,  white  and  blue, 
its  lion,  and  its  cap  of  liberty,  fluttered  in  the  breeze 
the  colonists   cheered  and  the  soldiers  fired  their 

*G.  W.  Pope,  in  "  South  Australian  Register." 


82    EARLY  DAYS  AT  NEW  AUSTRALIA 

Winchesters.  Second  and  third  salutes  were  fired, 
and  the  enthusiastic  AustraHans  (or  Utopians  as 
they  might  now  more  properly  style  themselves) 
cheered  themselves  hoarse,  standing  bareheaded 
beneath  the  flag  which  was  to  guarantee  them  their 
"emancipation"  from  all  the  ills  of  the  British 
yoke. 

The  day  of  its  official  recognition  was  one  of  high 
festivity  at  New  Australia,  and  an  honest  effort  was 
made  by  all  the  colonists  to  compose  their  differences 
and  join  hands  heartily  in  friendship  for  the  sake  of 
the  common  cause.  Something  of  the  old  high 
spirit  of  hope  was  revived  and  there  were  not  want- 
ing those  who  prophesied  that,  on  a  day  not  far 
distant,  Socialist  rule  would  have  spread  from  their 
small  community  to  embrace  the  entire  country. 
It  seemed  far  from  improbable  that  the  thousands 
of  Anglo-Saxons  who  might  shortly  be  expected  to 
join  them  would  become  the  masters  of  Paraguay. 
Not  that  the  New  Australians  dreamed  of  abusing 
the  hospitality  of  the  Paraguayans  by  going  to  war 
with  them ;  the  country  having  already  a  democratic 
constitution  would  be  converted  to  Socialism,  if  at 
all,  by  "peaceful  penetration,"  and  there  would  be 
no  need  to  alter  so  much  as  the  nation's  flag,  for  on 
that  emblem  were  inscribed  the  noble  words  "  Paz 
y  Justicia." 

Peace  and  Justice  !  The  refugees  from  industrial 
strife,  from  "  victimisation  "  and  all  the  alleged 
horrors  of  Capitalism  felt  that  the  trials  they  had 
endured  would  not  have  been  suffered  in  vain  if 
peace  were  found,  and  justice  ruled,  at  New 
Australia.     But  would  they  do  so? 


NUMEROUS   DIFFICULTIES  83 

Until    sufficient    rough    housing   accommodation 
had  been  put  up  to  shelter  the  whole  party  from  the 
weather  there  was  little  room  for  bickering,  since 
all  were  fully  employed  from  daylight  till  dark  upon 
the  work  of  procuring  and  preparing  the  necessary 
materials.     As  soon  as  a  few  could  be  spared  from 
such  work  preparations   were   made   for   receiving 
2500  head  of  cattle   upon   the   splendidly   situated 
"campo"  at  Las  Ovejas,  where  a  great  ring  fence 
was  required  to  prevent  them  from  straying.    While 
engaged  upon  such  work  the  colonists  had  to  con- 
tend with   numerous   difficulties   incidental  to  first 
settlement    in    any   tropical    country.       The    great 
clusters  of  long  thorns  which  tore  their  clothes  to 
pieces,   and  other  unpleasant  features  of  work   in 
the   densely   tangled   monte    (forest)    made    timber 
getting  a  painful  process.    They  were  unaccustomed 
to  such  a  pest  as  the  chigre,  a  small  flea  which  gets 
under  the  toenails  and  lays  its  eggs,  causing  the  feet 
to    fester.       Hornets    built  their    nests    under    the 
rafters,    and    could    only    be   taken    down    in    wet 
weather,  when  it  was  easy  to  put  a  lighted  rag  on 
the  end  of  a  cane  and  burn  them  out,  though  the 
person  performing  the  operation  was  pretty  sure  to 
be  stung.    Travelling  ants  also  made  periodic  visits 
to  each  house,  driving  the  occupants  out,  but  these 
were  something  of  a  blessing  in  disguise,  for  they 
drove  away  all   other  pests,    such  as  cockroaches, 
spiders,     lizards,    etc.        Parrots,     monkeys,     and 
vultures  are  plentiful  also  in  Paraguay,  but  they  are 
unobjectionable,   except   when   the  former  damage 
the  crops,  or  the  latter  pick  out  the  eyes  of  a  sickly 
calf. 


84    EARLY  DAYS  AT  NEW  AUSTRALIA 

At  first  there  was  some  dread  of  meeting  jaguars, 
pumas,  and  ocelots  in  the  forest  but  these  retreated 
further  into  the  wilderness  at  once  and  gave  little 
trouble.  Snakes,  however,  were  an  ever  present 
danger.  As  an  example  of  the  alarming  experi- 
ences which  befell  the  colonists  may  be  instanced 
an  adventure  of  the  Jacobsen  family.  Riding 
through  the  high  grass  towards  the  house  of  a 
neighbour,  Jacobsen  was  alarmed  to  see  his  little 
boy  racing  towards  him  along  the  track,  screaming 
with  pain  and  fright.  Hurrying  up,  he  found  that 
a  venomous  snake  had  its  fangs  firmly  imbedded  in 
the  youngster's  calf.  With  no  remedy  for  snake 
bite  at  hand  the  father  did  what  was  best,  under  the 
circumstances,  in  securing  a  tight  bandage  above 
the  wound  to  stop  the  circulation  of  the  blood. 
Then  he  set  off  on  a  ride  of  thirty-five  miles  to 
Villa  Rica,  riding  through  the  night  with  his  boy 
before  him.  The  roads  were  very  bad  at  the  time 
and  there  was  great  delay  on  the  way.  In  conse- 
quence, though  Dr.  Botrill,  who  was  a  kind  friend 
to  the  colonists,  saved  the  little  boy's  life,  he  could 
not  undo  the  injury  the  limb  had  sustained  from  the 
tight  ligature,  and  he  is  lame  still. 

Mosquitoes  also  gave  great  trouble,  as  the  annoy- 
ing   adventure   which    befell    M illustrates. 

This  individual,  a  real  Australian  bushman,  self- 
educated  (on  the  most  original  principles),  argu- 
mentative, and  determined,  and  a  convinced 
Anarchist,  met  with  a  situation  out  of  which  even 
his  rugged  eloquence  could  not  extricate  him.  He 
was  riding  to  Villa  Rica  on  official  business  one 
morning,    when    the  burning   sun    caused    infinite 


AN  ANARCHIST'S   ADVENTURE       85 

discomfort  to  the  most  hardened,  and  was  not  sorry 
to  reach  the  shade  of  the  trees  on  the  banks  of  the 
Rio  Tebicuari.  As  often  happened,  the  ferryman 
was  absent  from  liis  post,  and  it  was  necessary  to 
sw-im  the  stream.  As  he  was  wearing  his  "Sunday- 
best  "    garments,   M undressed   and   packed 

them  carefully  into  the  waterproof  bag  secured  to 
his  saddle.  Then  he  led  his  horse  into  the  water. 
Pondering    deeply,    as    was    his    habit,    over    the 

problems  of  the  Universe,  M failed  to  observe 

a  snag  and  tripped  over  it,  releasing  the  horse  and 
floundering  wildly  in  the  water.  When  he  regained 
his  feet,  the  horse  had  already  crossed  and  was 
watching  him  from  the  opposite  side. 

Swimming  over,  M expected  to  catch  his 

mount  without  any  difficulty,  but  the  animal,  which 
was  quite  used  to  being  caught  by  a  respectable 
individual  wearing  clothes,  was  not  at  all  willing  to 

surrender  to  this  naked  man.     M called  but 

the  horse  edged  away  and  finally  kicked  up  its  heels 
and  retired  to  a  safe  distance,  turning  to  stare  at  its 
angry  master  with  reproachful  eyes.     After  stalking 

the  horse  for  some  time  without  any  success  M 

realised  the  hopelessness  of  his  position  and  up- 
braided the  animal  in  vigorous  Australian.  In 
consequence  the  horse  refused  to  stay  longer  in  his 
society  and  galloped  away  towards  Oveido.     After 

its    vanishing    form    M —    called    opprobious 

epithets  for  some  time  but,  before  he  had  half  done 
justice  to  the  situation,  a  voracious  mosquito  called 
his  attention  to  the  pressing  problem  of  self-protec- 
tion. At  first  he  entertained  the  idea  of  walking 
across  the  camp  to  some  native  casa  where  he  could 
o 


86    EARLY  DAYS  AT  NEW  AUSTRALIA 

borrow  clothes  and  a  horse,  but  he  had  forgotten 
the  heat  of  the  sun,  which  would  flay  him  in  half 
an  hour,  and  he  had  also  left  the  "bichos"  (insects) 
out  of  the  reckoning.  He  was  forced  to  seek  shelter 
in  the  river  to  escape  the  mosquito  bites  and  heat; 
there,  standing  with  the  water  up  to  his  chin,  in  no 
enviable  frame  of  mind,  he  waited  patiently  for 
some  other  traveller  to  arrive  and  put  an  end  to  the 
ridiculous  situation.  But  hour  after  hour  passed 
and  no  one  came.  At  the  best  of  times  there  is  not 
much  traffic  across  the  Tebicuari  at  that  ford,  and 

on  this  particular  day  M 's  evil  star  provided 

that  no  one  should  come  to  his  assistance.  Through 
the  whole  of  the  day  the  unfortunate  Anarchist 
remained  in  the  water  with  a  halo  of  mosquitoes 
round  his  head.  At  nightfall,  when  he  could 
venture  out  without  being  blistered  by  the  sun,  he 
sallied  forth  and  the  mosquitoes,  their  appetites 
reinforced  by  their  long  wait,  went  with  him. 
Eventually  he  reached  a  native  hut  and  was  hospit- 
ably entertained,  clothed,  and  fed.  An  hour  later 
he  found  his  horse  unconcernedly  nibbling  the  grass 
at  a  little  distance;  it  says  much  for  his  philosophic 
spirit  that  he  forbore  to  visit  upon  the  brute  suffer- 
ing equal  to  that  which  the  mosquitoes  had  inflicted 
upon  him. 

Such  trials  as  these  were  as  nothing,  however,  to 
the  acrimonious  disputes  which  once  more  broke 
out  upon  the  colony  within  a  few  weeks  of  its  official 
opening. 

To  take  a  few  minor  instances  first.  An  eminent 
educationalist,  Mr.  Murdoch,  who  held  an  important 
appointment  in  Japan,  joined  the  colonists,  not  as 


THE  APPORTIONMENT  OF  LABOUR    8; 

a  member  but  to  assist  them  during  the  first  few 
months  in  organising  education,  and  to  see  how  the 
experiment  developed.  But  he  could  get  no 
scholars.  "Because  there  were  no  jams  and  pickles 
in  the  store,"  Mrs.  William  Lane  told  an  interviewer 
after  her  return  to  Australia,  "the  mothers  refused 
to  send  their  children  to  him.  On  the  other  hand 
a  ladv  and  her  daughter,  who  had  been  appointed 
to  the  educational  staflf  of  the  colony,  ignoring  the 
settlers'  claims,  rushed  off  to  the  native  huts,  and 
there  amused  themselves  in  an  attempt  to  teach  the 
Indian  children  English."  The  leader's  wife  also 
told  her  Australian  friends  that  three  men  who  had 
brought  saddles  (presumably  expecting  to  be  ap- 
pointed stockmen)  refused  to  lend  them  to  the  official 
stockmen,  so  that  the  latter  had  to  gallop  in  pursuit 
of  cattle  on  make-shift  saddles  without  stirrups  ! 
Similarly,  a  colonist  who  had  brought  a  magic- 
lantern  with  him  refused  to  give  his  brother 
Socialists  an  entertainment,  though  he  would  exhibit 
it  for  the  amusement  of  the  natives  as  often  as 
requested  ! 

The  problem  of  the  due  apportionment  of  labour 
which  had  threatened  a  storm  upon  the  "  Royal 
Tar,"  now  began  to  occasion  acute  controversy. 
It  was  freely  alleged  by  almost  every  colonist 
against  some  other  that  the  latter  was  working  less 
vigorously  for  the  benefit  of  "all  "  than  he  would 
have  done  in  his  own  interest. 


Before  proceeding  to  relate  what  actually  occurred 
at  New    Australia,    it  is   interesting   to  note   what 


88    EARLY  DAYS  AT  NEW  AUSTRALIA 

Socialist  theorists  claim  would  be  the  result  of 
removing  from  industry  the  incentive  of  personal 
gain. 

"  I  will  confess  I  find  it  hard  to  write  with  any 
patience  and  civility  of  this  argument  that  humanity 
will  not  work  except  for  greed  or  need  of  money  and 
only  in  proportion  to  the  getting,"  says  Mr.  H.  G. 
Wells.^ 

"  The  public  services  of  the  coming  civilisation," 
he  insists  in  the  same  work,  "will  demand  and  will 
develop  a  far  completer  discipline  and  tradition  of 
honour." 

Mr.  Robert  Blatchford,  in  the  fifteenth  chapter 
of  "  Merrie  England  "f  sets  out  to  answer  the 
objection,  "  Socialism  is  impossible,  because  it 
would  destroy  the  incentive  of  gain."  With  his 
usual  dexterity  the  author  plays  round  and  about 
his  theme  so  cleverly  that  the  uncritical  reader  may 
well  believe  that  he  has  disposed  of  it,  although  as 
a  matter  of  fact,  the  main  issue  is  completely  side- 
tracked. "  It  seems  an  amazing  thing  to  me,  this 
persistence  in  the  belief  that  greed  is  the  motive 
powder  of  humanity,"  he  asserts.  "The  refutation 
of  that  error  is  forever  under  our  noses.  You  see 
how  men  strive  at  cricket ;  you  see  the  intense  effort 
and  the  fierce  zeal  they  display  at  football ;  .  .  .  . 
Your  volunteer  force — does  that  exist  for  gain  ? 
What  will  not  a  soldier  do  for  a  tiny  bronze  cross 

*"New  Worlds  for  Old." 

t  "  Merrie  England  "  was  running  as  a  serial  in  the  "  Clarion  " 
at  this  time  (1893).  It  is  the  most  popular  text-book  of  Socialism, 
having  sold  in  volume  form  about  one  million  copies. 


AN   OPTIMISTIC   VIEW  89 

not  worth  a  crown  piece  ?  What  will  a  husband 
endure  for  his  wife's  sake  ?  A  father  for  his 
children  ?  A  fanatic  for  his  religion  ?  But  you  do 
not  believe  that  Socialism  is  to  destroy  all  love,  and 
all  honour,  and  all  duty  and  devotion,  do  you?" 

It  seems  hardly  necessary  to  remind  the  intelligent 
reader  that  the  same  man  who  will  try  hard  to  win 
a  football  match  for  fun,  or  gain  the  V.C  for  glory, 
without  hope  of  monetary  reward,  would  have  the 
most  rooted  objection  to  doing  anything  so  dull  as 
ploughing  or  brick-laying  without  due  and  sufficient 
recompense.  But  the  optimistic  views  of  "  Nun- 
quam  " — who  believes  that  only  Socialists  under- 
stand human  nature — were  shared  by  William  Lane, 
who,  before  his  bitter  disillusionment,  wrote  :  — 

"  But  New  Australia  won't  work,  critics  say. 
Why  not  ?  Do  we  labour  for  gold,  think  you  ? 
Why,  no  man  who  is  a  man  would  trade  the  kiss 
of  a  woman,  or  the  hand-clasp  of  a  friend,  or  the 
arm-clinging  of  a  little  child,  for  the  wealth  of  a 
Tyson.  Give  the  average  man  a  cottage  home,  the 
woman  he  loves,  children  in  whose  eyes  his  own  life 
laughs  back  at  him,  friends  who  esteem  him,  food 
for  mind  as  well  as  for  body,  and  then  see  if  he  will 
not  toil  to  fence  his  home  from  all  ill.  And  he 
won't  toil  the  less  because  the  fence  he  works  at  is  a 
ring  fence,  which  guards  his  mates'  homes  as  it 
guards  his,  when  he  understands  that  by  co-opera- 
tion he  can  make  it  higher,  and  stronger,  and 
thicker,  tlian  any  fence  he  could  possibly  put  up 
round  his  own  small  yard." 

Apparently  all  the  foregoing  representative 
writers     think,     with     Herr     August     Bebel,     that 


90  EARLY  DAYS  AT  NEW  AUSTRALIA 

Socialism  would  revolutionise  human  nature.  "  It 
is  evident,"  the  author  of  "  Die  Frau  "  says,  "  that 
labour  thus  organised  on  principles  of  perfect  free- 
dom and  democratic  equality,  in  which  one  repre- 
sents all,  and  all  one,  must  awake  the  highest  sense 
of  solidarity  and  a  spirit  of  cheerful  activity,  and 
call  forth  a  degree  of  emulation  such  as  is  nowhere 
to  be  found  in  the  present  industrial  system." 

How  very  delightful  it  must  be  to  have  such 
beautiful  faith  in  the  noble  qualities  of  all  one's 
fellow  men  !  It  is  upon  this  conviction  that  every 
man  is  at  heart  "  sans  peur  et  sans  reproche  "  that 
Socialists  build  their  hopes  of  universal  bliss.  But, 
as  Mr.  Blatchford  says,  "  the  only  school  for  the 
study  of-human  nature  is  the  world."  The  example 
of  New  Australia  affords  a  priceless  opportunity  to 
study  and  compare  Socialism  in  practice  and  in 
theory.  If  he  had  only  found  time  to  spend  a 
month  or  two  there,  Herr  Rebel  himself  must  have 
admitted  the  fundamental  error  of  his  proposition, 
for  dissension,  gloom,  and  sloth  were  the  order  of 
the  day. 


In  those  early  days  the  colonists  were  intoxicated 
with  the  magnificence  of  their  project.  There  was 
no  steady  effort  leading  up  to  bigger  things. 
Confident,  and  with  some  capital  behind  them,  they 
commenced  at  once  on  the  scale  they  hoped  to  be 
able  to  continue,  and  one  of  the  first  things  they 
decided  on  was  ample  leisure.  They  had  done  with 
the  bad  old  scheme  of  things  in  which  "the 
exigences  of  Capitalism  ground  the  people  down. 


NO  DRUDGERY  91 

robbed  them  of  rest,  of  energy,  of  health,  of  food, 
of  time — so  that  they  have  neither  heart  nor  mind 
nor  opportunity  to  become  aught  but  drudges."* 
At  all  risks  some  of  the  New  Australians  were  deter- 
mined to  avoid  drudgery  in  their  new  life;  they 
were  very  keen  on  being  properly  "  uplifted." 
There  was  a  brass  band  of  thirty-six  instruments  in 
the  colony,  which  had  cost  ^250.  "  What  is  the 
use  of  a  piano,  if  you  have  neither  leisure  nor  means 
to  learn  to  play  it?"  Mr.  Blatchford  inquires;  like 
good  Socialists  the  bandsmen  practised  on  their 
instruments  assiduously  in  Colony  time.  On  strict 
Trade  Union  principles  none  worked  more  than  eight 
hours  a  day,  and  it  was  natural  that  the  bandsmen 
should  prefer  blowing  away  at  their  instruments  for 
some  considerable  proportion  of  their  time  to  felling 
trees  in  the  forest,  or  tilling  the  fields  beneath  the 
burning  rays  of  a  tropical  sun.  To  any  practical- 
minded  person  who  suggested  that  music  might  be 
dispensed  with  for  the  present,  the  musicians  could 
retort,  "  I  tell  you,  my  practical  friend,  that  you 
ought  to  have,  and  may  have  good  music."* 

A  great  deal  of  dissatisfaction  was  occasioned  by 
the  way  labour  was  distributed.  The  man  who 
worked  arduously  for  eight  hours  in  the  vegetable 
garden  envied  the  more  fortunate  fellow  who  spent 
his  day  riding  about  the  camp,  herding  cattle.  The 
cowboy,  on  the  other  hand,  considered  that  the 
schoolmaster  had  a  considerably  easier  job,  and  he 
was  perhaps  moved  to  compare  his  allotted  task 
with  that  of  the  colonist  whose  principal  duty 
appeared  to  be  to  blow  the  dinner  horn. 

•"Merrie  England." 


92    EARLY  DAYS  AT  NEW  AUSTRALIA 

Although  there  were  nominally  foremen  in  charge 
of  different  departments,  the  rank  and  file  regarded 
it  as  an  intolerable  insult  to  be  "  speeded  up."  If 
it  were  true  that  under  Capitalism  "each  worker  was 
robbed  of  two-thirds  of  all  he  earned"  surely  the 
individual  need  only  work  one-third  as  hard  under 
Socialism  to  produce  an  equal  result.  Moreover, 
"You  often  hear  industry  praised  as  a  virtue,  I  think 
the  thing  is  not  a  virtue  in  itself  ..."  says  the 
most  popular  text-book  of  Socialism.  "  You  must 
not  fall  into  the  error  of  the  economist  and  suppose 
that  the  people  who  'produce  most'  are  the  greatest 
or  the  worthiest  people.  Before  praising  a  nation 
for  its  productiveness  and  industry  we  should 
enquire  if  the  things  they  produce  are  noble  or 
worthless  things,  and  if  the  labour  of  their  hands  is 
the  labour  of  slaves — or  of  freemen."*  While 
disentangling  the  knotty  question  as  to  whether 
the  tree  one  is  hewing  down,  is  a  noble  or  a  worth- 
less tree,  it  is  just  as  well  for  a  good  Socialist  to  sit 
down  and  have  a  smoke  to  assist  his  cogitations. 
If  a  foreman  should  happen  along  unheard,  and 
make  rude  remarks  about  his  apparent  idleness,  it  is 
the  free  Socialist's  instant  duty  to  retort  as  forcibly 
as  possible  that  one  is  not  a  slave.  If  the  Socialist 
has  his  "  Merrie  England"  by  heart  and  has 
presence  of  mind  to  quote  that  "  universal  industry, 
and  thrift,  and  temperance  amongst  the  poor  would 
tend  to  make  them  poorer  than  they  now  are,"  the 
foreman  will  retire  completely  worsted  ! 

When  William  Lane  initiated  his  great  venture 
he  was  a  convinced  believer  in  the  theory  that,  once 

*"  Merrie  England." 


PRACTICALLY  SLAVES  93 

removed  from  the  pernicious  influence  of  Capitalism, 
Ihey  would  all  dwell  together  in  brotherly  love 
without  the  necessity  for  severe  restrictions.  He 
soon  found  out  his  mistake,  however,  for  bitter 
charges  of  favouritism  were  continually  levelled  at 
his  head  and  at  the  heads  of  the  foremen  in  charge 
of  every  industry.  When  he  found  that  envy, 
hatred,  and  all  uncharitableness  thrived  in  this 
"  Paradise  "  as  in  a  hot-bed,  he  decided  on  a  policy 
of  benevolent  despotism,  which  the  fact  of  his  hold- 
ing proxies  for  all  the  members  of  the  Association 
still  in  Australia  enabled  him  to  carry  out.  With 
astern  hand  he  put  down  revolt,  and  punished  those 
who  disputed  his  decisions  by  setting  them  the  most 
distasteful  tasks.  No  one  was  allowed  to  absent 
himself  from  the  colony  without  Lane's  permission 
(seldom  accorded  lest  they  should  be  tempted  to  get 
drink)  and  incessant  grumbling  became  the  order 
of  the  day.  It  is  interesting  to  compare  Mr.  Blatch- 
ford's  statement:  "I  deny  that  Socialism  would 
result  in  any  form  of  slavery  at  all,"  with  the 
following  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  one  of  the 
disillusioned  pioneers,  "  We  have  surrendered  all 
civil  rights  and  become  mere  cogs  in  a  wheel.  No 
longer  active  factors  in  the  scheme  of  civilisation. 
...  In  fact  a  man  is  practically  a  slave.  Lane 
does  the  thinking  and  the  colonists  do  the  work. 
Result  barbarism." 


CHAPTER   IX. 

THE  FIRST   EXPULSIONS. 

Few,  even  among  Socialists,  realise  the  ferocity  of 
Socialism.  Of  course  they  are  aware  of  the  frightful 
episodes  which  occurred  during  the  Reign  of  Terror 
in  Paris — but  they  believe  that  those  sanguinary 
occurrences  were  occasioned  by  other  contemporary 
causes,  and  would  not  necessarily  recur  if  State 
Socialism  were  now  established.  The  few  logical 
Socialists  of  to-day  fully  recognise,  however,  that  a 
period  of  absolute  tyranny — during  which  all 
opponents  of  Socialism,  and  even  all  Socialists  who 
failed  to  agree  with  the  precise  views  of  their 
brother  Socialists  in  power,  would  be  pitilessly 
sacrificed  for  the  sake  of  producing  uniformity  of 
aim  among  its  citizens — would  usher  in  the 
"  Coming  State." 

Principally  through  the  influence  of  the  Christian 
religion  modern  civilisation  is  tolerant  even  towards 
the  unworthy;  even  the  "won't-work"  is  accom- 
modated with  a  bed  and  a  meal  in  the  casual  ward ; 
even  the  useless  drunkard  is  "given  another 
chance,"  and  then  another,  and  another,  and  the 
worst  thing  that  can  happen  to  him  is  a  period  of 
detention  in  a  gaol;  as  for  the  agitator,  whose  aim 
in  life  is  to  upset  the  existing  scheme  of  civilisation, 
he  is  actually  protected  by  the  police  force  of  that 
civilisation  from  the  natural  indignation  of  other 
citizens. 

94 


LEGALISED   FEROCITY  95 

Socialism  is  mucli  too  logical  to  tolerate  such  a 
state  of  affairs.  In  a  small  community,  expulsion; 
in  an  international  Socialist  State,  the  lethal 
chamber,  will  be  the  fate  of  persistent  offenders 
arainst  the  established  conventions.  And  this 
though  the  executive  authorities  of  the  State  may  be, 
personally,  the  mildest  and  most  humane  of  men. 
The  ferocity  of  the  Socialist  State  will  be,  of  course, 
a  legalised  ferocity;  that  is,  it  will  be  exercised 
nominally  for  the  benefit  of  the  State.  The  method 
of  its  working  will  be  as  emotionless  and  merciless 
as  the  vengeance  of  the  worker  bees  upon  the  drones. 
The  officials  of  the  efficient  and  well-organised 
Socialist  community  will  not  tolerate  the  presence  of 
drunken,  lazy,  or  trouble-creating  citizens  in  their 
midst ;  Socialism  will  be  .no  wit  less  pitiless  than  the 
spirit  of  the  hive,  when  as  Maeterlinck  records  : 
"  one  morning  the  long-expected  word  of  command 
goes  through  the  hive,  and  the  peaceful  workers 
turn  into  judges  and  executioners  .  .  .  each  one  is 
assailed  by  three  or  four  envoys  of  justice  .  .  .  and 
in  a  very  brief  space,  their  appearance  becomes  so 
deplorable,  that  pity,  never  far  from  justice  in  the 
depths  of  our  hearts,  quickly  returns,  and  would 
seek  forgiveness,  though  vainly  of  the  stern  workers 
who  recognise  only  Nature's  harsh  and  profound 
laws. 

"  Many  will  reach  the  door  and  escape  into  space 
.  .  .  but,  towards  evening,  impelled  by  hunger  and 
cold,  they  return  in  crowds  to  the  entrance  of  the 
hive  to  beg  for  shelter.  But  there  they  encounter 
another  pitiless  guard.  The  next  morning,  before 
setting  forth  on  tiieir  journey,  the  workers  will  clear 


96  THE    FIRST   EXPULSIONS 

the  threshold,  strewn  with  the  corpses  of  the  useless 
giants." 

The  present  writer  would  be  the  last  to  deny  that 
such  a  system  has  its  merits  when  applied  by  a  brute 
Republic  with  no  lesser  means  of  self-protection 
against  brute  intelligence  incapable  of  reformation. 
In  a  human  Republic,  however,  were  such  drastic 
discipline  permitted,  not  merely  the  drones,  but  also 
the  most  energetic  individuals  whose  views  or 
persons  happened  to  be  considered  objectionable 
by  the  executive  would  be  suppressed.  As  will 
presently  appear,  at  New  Australia  a  sentence  of 
banishment  was  enforced  for  an  offence  which  a 
"Capitalistic"  judge  would  have  punished  by  a 
fine  of  "  ten  shillings  and  costs,"  plus,  perhaps  the 
doctor's  fee,  at  most. 

There  was  considerable  friction  at  New  Australia 
over  the  total  abstinence  pledge.  To  Lane  it  was 
no  deprivation  to  go  without  alcohol,  as  he  was  a 
life-long  abstainer,  but  with  others  the  case  was 
different.  After  a  hard  day's  work  in  the  forest 
many  men  felt  that  they  would  be  "  all  the  better  for 
a  tot"  of  the  excellent  rum  made  by  the  natives  in 
the  vicinity.  Where  did  the  freedom  of  New 
Australia  come  in,  w'hen  as  the  Clarion  scornfully 
said  of  Sicily,  "  the  workers  were  as  temperate  as 
dogs;    and  they  were  treated  like  dogs." 

Some  argued  very  reasonably  that  there  was  no 
essential  connection  between  Socialism  and  Recha- 
bite  principles — the  wise  Dr.  Hertzka  provided  a 
brewery  in  "  Freeland  "  as  a  matter  of  course — and 
requested  that  the  temporary  ban  on  alcohol  should 
be  removed.      When   Lane  obstinately   refused   to 


DISOBEDIENCE   A  VIRTUE  97 

give  permission  some  of  the  colonists  decided  to 
dispense  with  it,  for,  after  all,  is  not  "disobedience, 
the  rarest  and  most  courageous  of  the  virtues?"* 

It  is  characteristic  of  many  stalwart  Britishers 
that,  when  they  are  very  miserable  they  find  comfort 
in  a  "glass."  Three  of  the  depressed  New 
Australians,  visiting  a  neighbouring  native  village, 
revived  their  flagging  spirits  wonderfully  by  a 
liberal  potation,  and,  on  their  return,  were  heartily 
congratulated  by  their  less  courageous  mates.  But 
they  incurred  the  fierce  wrath  of  their  master.  To 
the  consternation  of  the  culprits  and  their  friends 
Lane  decreed  their  instant  expulsion  from  the 
community. 

Apart  from  the  question  of  abstract  justice  this 
action  was  so  unlike  William  Lane's  previous  pro- 
fessions that  his  followers  were  absolutely  staggered. 
They  might  have  quoted  Mr.  Blatchford,  "Drunken- 
ness is  a  disease.  It  is  just  as  much  a  disease  as 
typhus  fever  or  cholera,  and  often  arises  from  very 
similar  causes.  Any  medical  man  will  tell  you  that 
the  craving  for  alcoholic  stimulants  is  frequently 
found  amongst  men  whose  nervous  system  is  low." 
Surely  the  New  Australians  had  had  enough  to  try 
their  nerves  !  They  might  have  reminded  him  that 
in  the  old  days,  when  he  preached  brotherly  love  and 
mutual  forbearance  in  the  columns  of  The  Worker, 
he  wrote  thus  of  a  Shearers'  Union  organiser,  who, 
it  was  alleged,  had  embezzled  certain  money  belong- 
ing to  his  mates:  "  I  deeply  regret  that  the  com- 
mittee of  the  A.L.U.  have  decided  to  prosecute  .  .   . 

*  "  The  Revolutionists'  Handbook,"  by  Bernard  Shaw. 


98  THE    FIRST   EXPULSIONS 

for  defalcation.  I  deny  he  is  a  criminal.  He  is  a  poor 
drunken  wretch  who  should  have  been  safeguarded 
against  himself."  How  was  it  possible  to  harmonise 
so  merciful  a  spirit  with  his  present  determination  ? 
The  answer  is  simple.  Although  it  rails  so  bitterly 
against  the  despotism  of  all  existing  authority 
Socialism  is  necessarily  infinitely  more  despotic  in 
enforcing  its  own  counsels  of  perfection.  That  is 
why  all  attempts  at  Socialistic  government  inevitably 
prove  the  most  hateful  form  of  grinding  tyranny. 
As  the  faithful  servant  of  the  "Cause"  Lane  was 
compelled,  in  spite  of  any  regrets  he  might  person- 
ally feel,  to  deal  pitilessly  with  offenders. 

It  would  have  been  easy  for  Lane  to  punish  the 
three  culprits  by  docking  their  "  credit "  at  the 
store,  and  many  of  the  settlers  begged  him  to  adopt 
that  course,  but  Lane  was  obdurate.  They  had 
broken  his  pet  regulation,  and  they  must  go.  In 
vain  it  was  pointed  out  that  an  article  of  the 
Constitution  said,  "  Dismissal  from  the  com- 
munity for  persistent  or  unpardonable  offence 
against  the  well-being  of  the  community  to  be 
decreed  only  by  a  live-sixth  majority  of  all  adult 
members."  He  replied  that  the  Constitution  was 
not  yet  in  operation  and  that  if  it  were,  his  sole  vote 
(representing  all  those  still  in  Australia)  outweighed 
the  others  by  the  required  majority.  The  fact  that 
the  unfortunate  offenders  would  be  stranded  in  an 
Indian  country  many  thousands  of  miles  from  home 
did  not  move  him,  nor  did  the  fact  that  they  had 
contributed  all  their  possessions  to  his  wild-cat 
scheme.  There  was  neither  room  in  New  Australia 
for  backsliders,  nor  mercy  for  them. 


A   STERN  DECREE  99 

In  the  masterful  manner  in  which  he  now  con- 
ducted affairs,  Lane  issued  the  following  decree  :  — 

NOTICE. 

All    members    will    take    notice    that    , 


,  and  ,  have  been  expelled  from  the 

New  Australia  Co-operative  Association  for  wilful 
and  persistent  violation  of  the  clause  in  our  mutual 
agreement,  signed  by  them,  relating  to  liquor 
drinking. 

Dec.  15th,  1893.  W.  Lane. 

(Chairman.) 

An  uproar  followed  the  posting  of  this  notice,  for 

it  was  claimed  that  others  besides  the   three  men 

mentioned  were  guilty  of  obtaining  liquor.     In  fact 

certain  of  Lane's  best  friends  were  accused  of  being 

persistent  sinners,  and  the  allegation  that  personal 

animus  had  existed  in  Australia  between  one  of  the 

expelled  and  one  of  Lane's  most  trusted  henchmen 

was    adduced    as   evidence   of    victimisation.       On 

these  and  other  grounds  feeling  ran  high  and  it  was 

asked  if  the  three  offenders  declined,  as  they  did 

decline,  to  go ;  how  could  their  expulsion  be  enforced 

when  half  the  colony  sided  with  them  ? 
*  #   '         *  *  * 

Socialist  agitators  are  fond  of  declaiming  against 
the  use,  by  the  authorities,  of  military  power  to  over- 
awe mutinous  mobs  who  refuse  to  obey  the  law. 
If  they  were  asked  how  a  Socialist  executive  would 
deal  with  a  case  such  as  that  which  arose  at  New 
Australia — where  a  large  proportion  of  the  citizens 
on  the  spot  upheld  the  law-breakers — it  would 
puzzle  them  to  provide  an  answer.     The  fact  is  that 


loo  THE  FIRST  EXPULSIONS 

nine  out  of  ten  Socialists  believe  that  no  police 
would  be  required  in  a  Socialist  State.  Yet  Trade 
Union  tyranny  might  warn  them  that  a  Socialist 
Government  would  enforce  its  will  upon  the  rank 
and  file  by  shot  and  steel  if  necessary.  This  fact  is 
frankly  admitted  by  the  greatest  intellect  in  the 
Socialist  ranks  to-day.  "  Of  course,  if  the  nation 
adopted  the  Fabian  policy,"  says  "The  Revolution- 
ists' Handbook,"  by  Bernard  Shaw,  "  it  would  be 
carried  out  by  brute  force  exactly  as  our  present 
property  system  is.  It  would  become  the  law;  and 
those  who  resisted  it  would  be  fined,  sold  up, 
knocked  on  the  head  by  policemen,  thrown  into 
prison,   and  in  the  last  resort   '  executed  '  just  as 

when  they  break  the  present  law." 

***** 

William  Lane  w'as  too  clever  a  man  to  issue 
decrees  which  he  had  no  power  of  enforcing.  His 
appointment  from  the  Paraguayan  Government,  as 
executive  officer  for  enforcing  law,  gave  him  the 
power  to  call  upon  that  Government  for  force  to 
back  up  his  decisions.  On  the  expelled  members 
refusing  to  quit,  he  disappeared  from  the  colony,  and 
returned  later  with  a  body  of  Paraguayan  soldiers 
armed  to  the  teeth.  Holding  with  Mr.  Blatchford 
that  "  in  a  Socialistic  state  of  society  they  would  no 
more  go  armed  and  in  fear  of  their  fellow  creatures," 
the  colonists  had  sold  any  weapons  they  might 
possess  for  the  benefit  of  the  common  fund ;  they 
had  no  better  weapons  than  agricultural  implements 
and  sticks  to  oppose  to  Lane's  revolver  and  the 
murderous  looking  bayonets  of  his  native  posse. 
In  vain  the  "expelled"  begged  for  mercy,  in  vain 


CHRISTMAS   DAY  loi 

they  demanded  the  return  in  full  of  their  contribu- 
tions*— these  were  a  "  voluntary  gift  "  to  the 
Association — in  vain  women  wept  and  declared  that 
they  and  their  families  would  secede  also  if  the  three 
unfortunates  were  so  heavily  punished  for  so  light  a 
crime.  Although  it  was  the  festive  Christmas 
season  Lane  was  adamant. 

One  of  the  colonists,  described  as  "  neither  a 
seceder  nor  one  of  Lane's  puppets"  wrote  the 
following  account  of  the  expulsion  to  the  Barrier 
Miner: — "Upon  the  day  appointed  for  them  to 
leave,  the  police  came  down  upon  the  scene.  There 
did  really  appear  to  be  a  serious  prospect  of  blood- 
shed. Lane  rode  in  and  about  with  a  revolver  in 
his  belt.  It  was  not  as  as  though  the  men  who  had 
to  leave  were  an  entirely  bad  lot.  Only  one  was 
very  bad.  Two  or  three  others  only  were  not  good, 
but  amongst  the  rest  were  some  really  first  class 
workers,  and  some  of  the  women,  too,  could  ill  be 
spared.  They  left  peaceably  however,  and  I  do  not 
know  who  were  the  most  miserable — those  who  went 
(the  expelled  by  the  way  were  joined  by  some 
voluntary  seceders)  or  those  of  us  who  remained, 
and  we  have  been  pretty  miserable  ever  since.  .  .  . 

"  We    had   Christmas   dinner    all    together,''    he 

remarks,  "  and  I  can't  say  we  were  happy.     It  was 

just   after   the   trouble.       For   the    youngsters    the 

women  folk  managed  to  rake  up  some  cards  and  so 

on    to   make    quite    a  presentable    Christmas   tree. 

Santa  Claus,  however,  did  not  seem  to  get  as  far  as 

Paraguay.   .  .   ." 

*One  of  the  expelled  had  contributed   £1,000  to  the  common 
funds. 

H 


I02  THE   FIRST   EXPULSIONS 

There  was  of  course  no  religious  service  at  New- 
Australia  on  Christmas  Day,  but  the  party  were 
assembled  to  sing  the  marching  song  of  their 
movement :  — 

Shoulder  to  shoulder,  mates — • 

Shoulders  together. 
Hands  clasped  in  hands  my  mates ; 

Fair  and  fine  weather. 
Hearts  beating  close,  my  mates, 

Each  man  a  brother. 
Building  a  home,  my  mates, 

All  for  each  other. 

The  children  sang  heartily  enough,  but  the  men 
listened  for  the  most  part  in  gloomy  silence.  They 
were  thinking  of  their  "  mates  "  who  had  just  been 
shouldered  out,  with  scarcely  enough  money  to 
enable  them  to  reach  Asuncion  and  throw  them- 
selves upon  the  mercy  of  the  British  Consul. 
Lane's  utterances  upon  the  subject  of  mateship 
woke  little  response  now  in  the  hearts  of  those  who 
remained.  Was  it  mateship  to  induce  a  man  to 
contribute  all  he  had  in  the  world  to  the  "  Cause," 
and  then  expel  him  with  only  three  pounds  in  his 
pocket  ?  Was  it  to  do  such  things  as  this  that  they 
had  left  Australia? 


CHAPTER  X. 

A  HELL  UPON  EARTH. 

The  men  and  women  who  had  left  happy  homes  in 
a  civiHsed  country  to  teach  the  world  a  glorious 
lesson  were  sadly  undeceived  at  New  Australia. 
Lane's  strict  insistence  upon  the  letter  of  the  law, 
the  suspension  of  the  Constitution  (of  which  the 
rank  and  file  were  not  aware  till  they  had  sailed), 
and  the  expulsion  of  members  caused  the  bitterest 
animosity  amongst  the  colonists.  In  fear  and 
trembling  men  and  women  assembled  in  groups  to 
discuss  the  crisis  in  their  affairs  w-ith  bated  breath. 
Practically  no  work  was  done,  the  days  and  nights 
being  spent  by  rival  factions  in  intriguing  one 
against  the  other.  Finally  the  disaffection  became 
so  acute  that  about  one-third  of  the  party  decided  to 
take  concerted  action  ;  how  eagerly  now  they  turned 
towards  the  British  flag  which  they  had  repudiated 
so  cheerfully  a  little  earlier  !  An  authentic  account 
of  what  actually  occurred  is  to  be  found  in  the 
Foreign  Office  Report,  "  Miscellaneous  Series," 
No-  35^  (1895),  which  reads  as  follows:  — 

"  Things  went  from  bad  to  worse,  disputes  arose 
and  became  so  bitter  that  two  parties  were  formed, 
one  composed  of  those  who  followed  and  the  other 
of  those  who  opposed  the  directions  of  the  manager, 
and  a  new  source  of  quarrel  sprang  up  when  it  was 
discovered  that  the  Association  had  been  registered 


10 


o 


104  A   HELL   UPON   EARTH 

as  a  limited  liability  company,*  without  the  members 
having  ever  been  consulted  on  the  subject,  and  that 
the  manager  would  be  able  to  exercise  almost 
absolute  power ;  moreover  the  use  of  the  police  force 
created  great  excitement  and  a  general  uproar,  until 
at  length  finding  it  impossible  to  agree  eighty-five 
members  seceded  in  a  body,  preferring  to  abandon 
all  their  shares  in  the  colony  and  to  receive  a  certain 
sum,  the  married  about  200  dollars  and  the  single 
150  dollars. t 

"  In  a  letter  which  one  of  the  seceders  wrote  to 
the  British  Consul  at  Monte  Video  he  stated  that 
the  manager  had  arrogated  to  himself  absolute 
power,  and  was  expelling  those  who  dared  to  stand 
up  for  their  rights  by  twos  and  threes.  '  To  prevent 
his  taking  us  thus,'  so  he  says,  '  we  have  all  decided 
to  leave  in  the  hope  that  something  may  be  done  for 
us  in  a  body  that  would  not  be  done  for  us 
individually.' 

"They  went  to  Villa  Rica,  and  there  they  had  a 
long  list  of  grievances  to  pour  forth,  and  tales  to  tell 
of  how  some  had  been  expelled  on  trivial  pretexts 
and  other  tyrannised.  They  said  that  no  financial 
statement  had  ever  appeared,  that  when  they  had 
asked  for  one  they  had  been  terrorised,  that  they 
could  not  go  outside  the  settlement  without  leave; 

*  It  was,  of  course,  necessary  to  register  the  Association  in 
Paraguay  as  a  land  company  in  order  to  secure  its  legal  status. 
It  was  expressly  stipulated  that  the  shares  should  pay  no  dividend. 
See  Appendix  B. 

-  t  =£5  and  £3.   15s.   respectively.      The  average  sum  per  head 
allowed  was  £3.  2s.  6d. 


ANYTHING   BUT   A   PARADISE       105 

that  if  they  did  attempt  to  go,  having  given  up 
everything  they  possessed  for  the  good  of  the  cause, 
they  had  no  money  to  spend.  Life  under  such 
conditions  was  intolerable,  and  it  was  clear  that  what 
with  the  absence  of  liberty,  the  isolation  of  exist- 
ence, the  suspicion  with  which  one  party  regarded 
the  other,  the  mutual  fear,  the  boycotting,  the  con- 
stant disputes,  the  hundreds  of  little  disagreeable 
events  that  went  on  the  whole  day  long,  whatever 
opinions  they  might  hold  on  other  subjects  they 
were  one  and  all  disposed  to  agree  that  New 
Australia  was  anything  but  a  working  man's 
paradise." 

Naturally  the  British  Consul  at  Asuncion  was  at 
his  wits'  end  to  knoAv  what  to  do  with  this  army  of 
destitute  fellow  countrymen,  and  the  Second 
Secretary  of  the  Legation  at  Buenos  Aires  was  sent 
to  try  and  patch  up  a  truce. 

"  I  had  been  instructed  to  visit  the  Colony  to 
enquire  into  the  cause  of  the  expulsion  of  these 
members  and  the  secession  of  about  one-third  of  the 
colony,"  wrote  Mr.  M.  de  C.  Findlay.*  "They  were 
given  a  few  pounds  apiece  when  they  left,  but  when 
I  saw  them  they  were  on  the  verge  of  destitution. 
I  found  Mr.  Lane,  the  present  chairman  of  the 
Association,  prepared  to  give  me  all  the  information 
I  asked  for,  but  to  him  the  Articles  of  Association 
and  agreements  signed  are  as  the  code  of  the  Mcdcs 
and  Persians,  and  any  infringement  thereof  must 
be  summarily  dealt  with.  He  does  not  admit  such 
things  as  extenuating  circumstances,  justice  means 
to  him  the  law  according  to  the  letter;    a  man  is 

*  Foreign  Office  Report,  1894,  No.  1357. 


io6  A   HELL   UPON   EARTH 

either  '  straight  '  or  he  is  '  not  straight,'  and  in  the 
latter  case  out  he  should  go.  .  .  .  Another  question 
which  may  cause  differences  is  that  of  nationality. 
Mr.  Lane  told  me  he  had  '  no  reason  to  be 
enthusiastically  loyal,'  and  that  a  vote  would  be 
taken  before  long  which  would  probably  result  in 
the  adoption  of  a  Paraguayan  nationality." 

In  his  introductory  letter  Mr.  Findlay  testifies  to 
the  good  character  of  the  Utopians  :  "The  colonists 
have  started  with  everything  in  their  favour — free 
land,  immunity  from  taxation,  a  good  climate,  and 
a  certain  amount  of  capital.  They  are  a  fine  class 
of  men,  and  if  they  were  less  disposed  to  stand  on 
the  letter  of  their  rights  and  took  a  more  reasonable 
view  of  the  failings  of  their  fellows  they  would  be 
sure  to  succeed.  As  it  is  they  came  to  found 
Utopia,  and  before  I  visited  the  colony  had 
succeeded  in  creating  (as  they  said)  '  a  hell  upon 
upon  earth.'  ...  I  feel  morally  certain  that  if  the 
colony  had  been  started  on  an  individualistic  basis 
(each  colonist  receiving  an  allotment),  and  with  no 
complicated  regulations  to  fight  over,  not  a  man 
would  have  left  the  settlement." 

Mr.  Findlay  found  it  impossible  to  patch  up  a 
truce  between  Lane  and  the  seceders,  who  must 
have  starved  but  for  the  generosity  of  the  Para- 
guayan Government  which  housed  and  fed  them  for 
three  weeks  at  Villa  Rica,  while  they  were  debating 
what  was  best  to  be  done.  When  he  learned  that 
the  negotiations  had  failed  President  Gonzalez 
offered  the  seceders  (but  not  the  three  expelled 
members)  a  grant  of  land,  on  individualistic  lines,  at 
the  Gonzalez  Colony,  which  he  had  established  two 


GONZALEZ   COLONY  107 

years  before  quite  near  the  railway  line.  With 
indefatigable  zeal  Mr.  Findlay  set  out  to  this  place 
where  he  found  Frenchmen,  Germans,  and  Poles 
doing  well.  The  President  offered  to  provide  each 
family  with  thirty  acres  of  land,  which  would  be 
increased  if  they  showed  industry,  together  with 
agricultural  implements  and  tools,  a  cow  and  a  calf, 
and  a  yoke  of  oxen,  all  at  cost  price  (to  be  paid  for 
on  easy  terms  spread  over  a  number  of  years). 
Furthermore,  seeds  were  to  be  provided  free,  and 
colonists  would  be  exempt  from  taxation  for  ten 
years.  In  addition,  the  settlers  were  offered  a  weekly 
sustenance  allow^ance  for  the  first  six  months  of 
$2.80  per  adult,  and  $1.40  per  child— to  be  spent  at 
a  Government  store  where  meat  would  be  sold  at 
cost  price.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  who  had 
obtained  employment  at  Asuncion,  the  seceders 
gladly  availed  themselves  of  this  offer  and  were 
conveyed  to  the  Gonzalez  (afterwards  re-christened 
"  National  ")  Colony  at  the  Government's  expense. 
***** 

It  would  be  pleasant  to  be  able  to  record  that 
these  unhappy  people  prospered  in  their  new 
surroundings,  but  unfortunately  that  was  not  so. 
The  Paraguayan  Revolution  of  July,  1894,  drove 
President  Gonzalez  from  office,  and,  in  the  confusion 
which  followed,  his  generous  arrangements  for  the 
seceders'  benefits  were  suspended.  As  they  had  not 
yet  had  time  to  grow  crops  on  the  clearings  they 
had  made  in  the  forest  the  seceders  came  perilously 
near  to  starvation,  and,  in  September,  twenty-five 
of  them  realised  all  their  resources  and  took  boat  to 


io8  A  HELL  UPON  EARTH 

Buenos  Aires.  Landing  penniless  in  the  Argentine 
capital,  they  were  befriended  by  the  Benevolent 
Society,  which  made  an  appeal  to  the  British 
charities  to  aid  in  returning  them  to  Australia. 

When   news  of   their   good  fortune  reached  the 
struggling   sixty    who   still   remained   at    Gonzalez 
Colony,   they   jumped  to  the   conclusion    that   the 
British  Government  was  anxious  to  re-patriale  them, 
and     one    of    their     number    was    despatched    to 
Asuncion  to  interview  the  Consul  on   the  subject. 
"  On  being  told  that  no  such  instructions  had  been 
received,  he  said  that  he  would  bring  his  wife  and 
four  children   and  leave  them  at  the   door  of  the 
Consulate,  that  his  railway  fare  had  been  raised  by 
subscription,  and  he  invited  Her  Majesty's  Consul 
to  come  and  see  the  miserable  plight  in  which  they 
were."*     It  is  hard  to  say  what  would  have  become 
of  these  ruined  and  desperate  folk  if  the  country 
they  had  scorned  and  left  had  not  taken  pity  on 
them.       On    hearing    of    their    sad    condition    the 
Australian  Government  made  arrangements  to  bring 
them  home  to  start  life  again   in  the  land  where 
many   of   them    had   once   been  fairly  prosperous. 
"  One  little  band,  as  they  came  down  the  Parana, 
passed  a  ship  flying  the  British  flag,  and  forgetting 
for  the  moment  all  their  trouble,  their  losses,  their 
keen  disappointment  and  their  destitute  condition, 
broke  into  a  cheer,"  reported  Mr.  Peel  of  the  Buenos 
Aires  Legation.      "  It  was  the  first  time  they  had 
seen  a  British  flag  since  their  arrival  in  Paraguay, 
and  its  sight  recalled  the  homes,  the  friends,  and  the 
life-long  associations  they  had  so  rashly  left,  and  to 

*  Foreign  Office,  1895,  Miscellaneous  Series,  No.  358. 


BRISK   ORGANISATION  log 

which  they  were  so  anxious  to  return,  and  bitterly 
did  they  recollect  how  .  .  .  they  had  been  told  by 
those  w'ho  had  induced  them  to  leave  Australia  that 
they  had  so  little  cause  to  be  enthusiastically  loyal." 


Meanwhile  organisation  was  proceeding  briskly 
in  Australia,  and  the  return  of  the  "Royal  Tar"  on 
December  7th,  1893,  gave  a  sharp  fillip  to  recruiting. 
Those  aboard  of  her  gave  such  a  good  account  of 
the  safe  and  pleasant  vovage  that  the  second 
contingent — already  encamped  under  canvas — was 
anxious  to  be  gone.  Among  members  of  the 
Association  in  the  Adelaide  district  there  was  quite 
a  rush  to  sell  up  their  homes,  in  order  to  pay  in  the 
minimum  contribution  before  the  next  boat  sailed. 

It  happened  that  three  prominent  strike  leaders 
were  just  then  released  from  prison ;  when  they 
announced  their  intention  of  shaking  the  dust  of 
Australia  from  their  feet  a  profound  sensation  was 
created  in  Trade  Union  circles.  A  great  crowd  of 
sympathisers  saw  them  off  by  the  S.S.  Buninyong, 
which  carried  ninety-four  men,  two  women,  and  six 
children  to  Monte  Video.  Burning  speeches  moved 
all  who  were  present  at  the  send-off  to  a  great  envy 
of  those  who  were  bound  for  the  land  of  freedom. 

"  We  only  wish  we  were  going  with  you," 
declared  many  who  had  not  yet  managed  to  scrape 
together  the  necessary  sixty  pounds.  "  Look  out 
for  us  on  the  other  side  !" 

In  most  of  the  Australian  States  organisation 
proceeded  so  rapidly  that  the  authorities  were  very 
much  alarmed.     If  merely  the  ne'er-do-wells  of  the 


no  A  HELL  UPON  EARTH 

community  had  been  joining  there  would  have 
been  no  occasion  to  worry ;  but  the  organisers  took 
care  to  accept  only  the  best  material.  The  Associa- 
tion was  said  to  be  negotiating  for  the  purchase  of 
three  more  ships,  and  there  was  no  reason  to  doubt 
the  estimate  that,  within  six  years,  6,000  souls  would 
leave  for  Paraguay.  Could  nothing  be  done  to 
stop  the  wholesale  departure  of  Australia's  sturdiest 
sons  ?  How  could  the  country's  broken  finances  be 
restored  to  a  healthy  condition  if  all  the  best  brawn 
and  sinew  were  withdrawn  ? 

If  only  the  true  state  of  affairs  at  New  Australia 
had  been  known  there  would  have  been  no  cause  for 
anxiety.  But  not  a  hint  of  the  dissension  had 
leaked  out  when  the  next  batch  boarded  the  "Royal 
Tar"  at  Adelaide  on  December  28th,  1893.  Utterly 
unsuspicious  of  the  misery  their  friends  were  already 
enduring,  the  families  in  this  contingent  played  at 
"liberty,  equality,  and  fraternity"  as  gaily  as  the 
"  Royal  Tar's  "  earlier  passengers  had  done.  But 
just  as  the  boat  was  upon  the  eve  of  sailing  the 
emigrants'  friends  on  shore  were  startled  by  the 
publication  of  the  following  announcement ;  — 

"The  Lieutenant  Governor  has  received  a 
telegram  from  the  Secretary  of  State  for  the 
Colonies,  informing  him  that  the  British  Minister 
at  Buenos  Aires  has  telegraphed  him  to  the  effect 
that  the  British  Consul  in  Paraguay  wires  that  eight 

New  Australians  headed  by and have 

left  their  new  labour  colony  as  a  protest  against 
injustice  of  administration.  They  ask  that  their 
friends  at   Adelaide   be  advised  so  as   to  prevent 


AN   UNFORTUNATE   BLUNDER       in 

further  shipments  in  "  Royal  Tar,"  which  sails  in 
a  few  days."* 

It  will  be  observed  that,  through  some  error  in 
transmission,  the  number  of  seceders  was  given  as 
eight  instead  of  eighty.  But  for  this  unfortunate 
blunder  the  sequel  would  certainly  have  been 
different. 

Immediately  on  receiving  this  message  the 
Premier  made  an  effort  to  save  the  party  which  had 
just  embarked  from  the  misery  in  store  for  them. 
Detective  Segerland  was  sent  out  to  the  boat  w'ith 
the  Governor's  cable,  and  with  instructions  to  say 
that  any  who  wished  to  leave  were  still  at  liberty  to 
do  so.  It  is  only  just  to  state  that  the  organisers 
gave  the  authorities  every  facility.  When  Seger- 
land reached  the  "  Royal  Tar,"  Mr.  Casey,  who 
was  in  charge,  at  once  called  a  meeting  for  the 
detective  to  address,  and  himself  proposed  a  hearty 
vote  of  thanks  to  the  authorities  for  placing  the 
matter  before  them.  Afterwards  a  discussion  took 
place,  and  all  agreed  that  so  small  a  number  of 
secessions  as  eight  was  not  of  any  importance.  It 
was  if  anything  a  tribute  to  the  courage  and  recti- 
tude of  the  administration.  A  resolution  was  pro- 
posed expressing  the  greatest  confidence  in  the 
officials  at  New  Australia  and  carried  unanimously. 
The  proceedings  ended  with  three  hearty  cheers  for 
William  Lane,  the  detective  was  sent  ashore,  and 
without  further  ado  the  "Royal  Tar"  was  towed  out 
to  sea.  She  sailed  without  a  soul  on  board  having 
the  least  suspicion  of  the  deplorable  state  of  affairs 
at  New  Australia. 

•"Sydney  Daily  Telegraph,"  Dec.  29,  1803. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

WILLIAM   LANE  SECEDES. 

On  reaching  Monte  Video,  and  hearing  a  full  report 
of  the  dismissals  and  secessions  from  New  Australia, 
three  or  four  families,  to  whom  it  would  not  mean 
absolute  ruin,  decided  to  turn  back  and  take  up  their 
old  occupations.  Most,  however,  decided  to  go  on. 
After  the  sacrifices  they  had  made  ano"  the  distance 
they  had  come  the  majority  would  not  be  lightly 
deterred  from  the  effort  to  realise  the  hopes  which 
had  so  far  led  them  on.  When  the  party  were  met 
at  Asuncion  on  March  7th,  1894,  by  William  Lane, 
his  magnetic  power  still  swayed  them  so  effectually 
that  doubts  were  dispelled  and  next  day  all  save  one 
left  for  New  Australia.  The  one  "  had  no  sooner 
landed  than  he  went  to  the  Consulate  and  claimed 
protection  of  the  British  flag.  .  .  .  This  emigrant 
stated  that  he  had  no  desire  to  go  to  New  Australia, 
as  he  wished  to  avoid  getting  into  serious  trouble 
which  he  thought  would  probably  arise  .  .  .  and 
that  as  he  had  a  good  deal  of  personal  property 
which,  perhaps,  according  to  the  articles  of  the 
Association,  would  not  be  restored  to  the  original 
owner,  he  claimed  the  protection  of  the  British  flag 
to  get  it  back  by  all  peaceful  means."* 

The  remainder  of  the  party,  consisting  of  about 
190   persons,    proceeded   to  New   Australia,  where 

*  Foreign  Office  Report,  Miscellaneous  Series,  No.  358. 

112 


LOFTY  MOTIVES  113 

Lane  ordered  them  to  encamp  at  Loma  Rugua,  a 
place  about  ten  miles  distant  from  Las  Ovejas,  the 
original  settlement.  This  deliberate  isolation  of  the 
newcomers  was,  of  course,  a  precautionary  measure 
intended  to  prevent  them  from  becoming  infected 
with  the  general  discontent.  Naturally,  however, 
it  was  not  long  before  some  of  the  pioneers  visited 
them  and  the  events  leading  up  to  the  expulsions 
and  secession  were  discussed  at  length.  From  that 
moment  it  was  determined  that  Lane's  autocratic 
sway  must  end. 

After  hearing  their  mates'  accounts  of  all  that  had 
occurred  feeling  against  the  leader  they  had  so  long 
revered  ran  higk  amongst  the  newcomers.  And  yet 
— calmly  considered— what  wrong  had  he  com- 
mitted? If  they  had  not  been  blinded  by  prejudice 
they  would  have  realised  that  it  was  not  William 
Lane,  but  the  whole  impracticable  scheme  that  was 
at  fault.  Of  their  own  volition  they  had  set  up  a 
system  of  cast-iron  laws  and  regulations  and  put 
him  in  supreme  authority  with  a  mandate  to  enforce 
them.  The  man  to  whom  they  had  temporarily 
entrusted  their  voting  proxies  was,  without  question, 
as  rigidly  honourable,  and  as  innocent  of  self-seek- 
ing as  any  man  could  be.  By  putting  in  operation 
the  harsh  law  of  expulsion  against  the  three 
offenders  lie  had  acted  from  the  loftiest  and  most 
logical  motives  and,  strictly  speaking,  had  not 
exceeded  his  authority.  It  was  Socialism  rather 
than  William  Lane  that  had  offended,  for  even  Mr. 
Blatchford  grants  "that  State  Socialism  would 
imply  some  interference  with  the  liberty  of  the 
individual."     And  if  any  liberty  is  to  be  absolutely 


114  WILLIAM    LANE   SECEDES 

curtailed,  which  could  more  properly  be  suppressed 
than  the  liberty  to  get  drunk  ? 

The  reasonableness  of  such  arguments  as  the 
above  will  appeal  to  any  fair-minded  person  but  it 
is  the  special  privilege  of  democracies  to  be  un- 
reasonable. The  British  coal  miners  recently  threw 
over  their  old  leaders,  when  the  enforcement  of  the 
Eight  Hours'  Act,  for  which  they  had  given  a 
mandate,  resulted  in  a  diminution  of  their  earnings  ; 
in  their  place  they  elevated  new  leaders  who  pro- 
mised that  in  future  they  should  both  eat  their  cake 
and  have  it.  In  precisely  the  same  manner  the  New 
Australians,  while  insisting  that  their  leader  should 
enforce  the  regulations,  determined  to  sacrifice  him 
as  soon  as  it  appeared  that  some  of  their  number 
had  suffered  through  his  obedience. 

The  most  varied  and  violent  accusations  were 
levelled  at  Lane's  head  by  those  who  wished  lo 
displace  him.  The  official  "New  Australia:  A 
Report  presented  to  the  British  Board  of  the  New 
Australia  Association"*  contains  an  assortment  of 
charges  which,  whether  well  founded  or  not,  are 
decidedly  instructive,  as  they  show  the  state  of 
feeling  which  had  arisen,  and  the  suspicion  with 
which  the  over-zealous  leader  was  regarded.  In 
this  Report,  by  one  in  hearty  sympathy  with  the 
movement,  there  is  an  interesting  illustration  of  the 
magic  change  which  the  exercise  of  his  authority  can 
produce  in  the  attitude  of  the  Socialist  rank  and  file 
towards  their  chosen  leader:  "Lane  as  a  high- 
souled  enthusiast  in  the  cause  of  Labour,  and  Lane 

*  By  Alfred  Rogers.  Murdoch  &  Co.,  26,  Paternoster  Square, 
1896. 


WOEFUL  MISMANAGEMENT         115 

as  a  despot  .  .  .  were  two  different  men.  As  the 
first  he  roused  the  enthusiasm  of  thousands,  as  the 
second  he  was  able  to  draw  out  all  the  worst  passions 
and  the  most  evil  thoughts  of  those  whom  he  had 
so  far  led,"  Mr.  Rogers  alleged.  "  Hence  the  first 
split." 

It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  experienced  Trade 
Union  leaders,  who  had  gone  to  prison  for  vigorous 
resistance  to  "oppression"  in  the  Antipodes,  would 
tamely  submit  to  what  they  considered  worse 
oppression  at  New  Australia.  Soon  after  the 
arrival  of  the  second  batch  there  came  a  crisis.  The 
newcomers  insisted  on  going  thoroughly  into 
matters,  and  declared  that  the  affairs  of  the  settle- 
ment had  been  so  woefully  mismanaged  that  a 
change  of  officials  was  urgently  necessary. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  Lane  could  not  be  displaced 
without  his  own  consent  (having  been  accorded  the 
power  of  director  for  two  years  from  the  Colony's 
establishment),  the  majority  would  have  had  a 
difficulty  in  enforcing  their  views  had  he  been 
obdurate.  But  he  bowed  to  the  will  of  the  people, 
and  telegraphed  to  his  associates  in  Australia  for 
their  consent  to  the  immediate  putting  in  force  of 
the  democratic  form  of  government  set  out  in  the 
hitherto  suspended  Constitution  (see  end  of  Chapter 
II).  Immediately  permission  arrived  he  resigned 
his  office,  and  a  new  Chairman  was  appointed  with 
more  limited  powers. 

Of  course  Lane's  fall  was  the  signal  for  a  general 
deposition  of  his  most  trusted  lieutenants  and  fore- 
men, none  of  whom  relished  the  notion  of  being 
reduced  to  the  ranks  and  disciplined  by  the  very 


ii6  WILLIAM    LANE   SECEDES 

individuals  who  hated  them  most.  Lane  therefore 
apphed  to  the  new  management  for  permission  to 
retire  to  a  part  of  the  concession  called  Codas,  there 
to  found  a  third  village  settlement  on  the  same  lines 
as  the  two  at  Las  Ovejas  and  Loma  Rugua.  There- 
upon a  furious  outcry  arose  and  it  was  most  unfairly 
alleged  that,  even  before  reaching  Paraguay,  "Lane 
had  decided  upon  separating  with  a  chosen  few  from 
the  main  body,  and  that  he  reserved  the  choicest 
ground  in  the  concession.  Codas,  for  this  purpose."* 
Although  New  Australia  held  600  square  miles  of 
territory,  not  more  than  about  one-tenth  of  which 
had  yet  been  explored,  there  was  no  room  on  it  for 
William  Lane,  except  as  an  underling.  Permission 
to  settle  at  Codas  was  refused  by  the  Board  of 
Managementf  He  was  at  liberty  to  leave  the 
colony  altogether  as  others  had  done,  or  he  could 
settle  down  to  his  share  of  the  common  toil,  and 
work  for  the  benefit  of  his  fellow-men  in  whatever 
capacity  the  properly  elected  authorities  might  order. 
The  tables  were  turned  with  a  vengeance  ! 

Faced  with  these  alternatives,  William  Lane  chose 
the  former,  and  went  out  into  the  wilderness  accom- 
panied by  forty-five  adult  sympathisers  and  about 
a  dozen  children,  together  with  a  fair  proportion  of 
the  implements  and  a  few  head  of  cattle.  Leaving 
his  party  encamped  by  the  side  of  a  stream,  just  off 

*  New  Australia  Report,  by  Alfred  Rogers. 

+  It  is  only  fair  to  state  that  Frederick  Kidd  and  other  leaders 
(who,  having  come  with  the  second  party,  were  free  from  animus) 
desired  to  grant  the  concession,  but  the  rank  and  file  would  not 
hear  of  it. 


o 


a. 
o 


c 
n) 

o 

E 
o 


AN  INTERESTING  COINCIDENCE    117 

the  New  Australia  territory,  William  Lane  went 
moodily  to  Asuncion  and  requested  a  further  grant 
on  which  to  set  up  a  selecter  Paradise. 


The  student  of  history  will  discern  a  close 
similarity  between  the  march  of  events  at  New 
Australia  and  that  classic  pattern  of  Socialist 
administration — the  Reign  of  Terror.  By  an 
interesting  coincidence  exactly  a  century  elapsed 
between  the  two  experiments. 

Jean  Paul  Marat,  the  French  Revolutionist,  was 
as  educated  and  refined  a  man  as  William  Lane, 
(though  without  his  humane  disposition).  Like 
the  latter,  Marat  had  lived  in  several  countries 
and  was  a  successful  professional  man  (he  practised 
in  London  and  Paris  as  a  doctor).  Marat  also  was 
bitten  with  a  feverish  desire  to  benefit  "  the  people." 
In  1789  he  launched  his  paper,  L'Ami  du  Peuple, 
and  used  its  columns  to  urge  the  "reforms"  he 
advocated,  just  as  Lane  founded  The  Worker,  one 
hundred  years  later  for  the  same  purpose.  Marat's 
lease  of  life  as  the  people's  idol  lasted  till  1792, 
when  the  Girondists  captured  the  popular  fancy  and 
secured  his  overthrow.  Had  Jean  Paul  lived  a 
century  later  he  might  have  dreamed  of  leading  his 
partisans  from  the  stricken  field,  but  his  activities 
were  cut  short  by  the  hand  of  a  woman  assassin  in 
the  very  month  during  which,  one  hundred  years 
later,  William  Lane  sailed  in  the  "  Royal  Tar." 

When  Marat  was  thrown  out,  his  place  in  the 
mob's  affections  was  divided  between  the  Girondist 
I 


iiS  WILLIAM    LANE   SECEDES 

leaders,  Brissot,  Gensonnt^,  Vergniaud,  Ducos,  and 
Sillery.  But  a  few  months  after  they  had  driven 
Marat  from  power,  the  Girondists  were  in  turn  dis- 
placed by  an  extremer  party ;  and  the  five  who  had 
thought  themselves  secure  were  guillotined  on  the 
night  of  October  30th,  1793. 

Next  the  Montagnards  wielded  brief  authority, 
until  the  notorious  Hebert  (who  set  up  Reason  as 
the  people's  only  God)  hounded  them  from  office 
and  cast  some  into  prison.  But  his  sway  endured 
not  long,  for  Danton  and  Robespierre  combined  to 
drag  him  down,  and  Hebert  "died  amid  the  jeers  of 
the  mob  whose  passion  for  blood  he  had  helped  to 
arouse,"  a  fortnight  before  the  very  men  he  had 
himself  condemned.  Next  it  was  Danton's  turn, 
for  the  treacherous  Robespierre  bade  him  begone 
also,  and  his  head  dropped  into  the  basket  with 
Desmoulins'  on  April  5th,  1794. 

As  a  tribute  to  his  willing  sacrifice  of  all  his 
friends  to  sate  their  appetite  for  change,  the 
sovereign  people  endured  Robespierre's  reign  for 
three  and  a  half  months  more  before  they  invoked 
the  aid  of  Madame  Guillotine  to  eject  him  from  the 
"  ideal  ''  Commonwealth, — ^St.  Just  and  Couthon 
losing  their  heads  with  him,  on  July  8th,  1794. 

Any  person  who  dismisses  the  appalling  incidents 
of  the  Reign  of  Terror  as  the  work  of  homicidal 
lunatics,  or  blames  the  criminal  classes  for  shedding 
the  blood  of  France's  noblest  sons,  betrays  lament- 
able ignorance  of  the  acknowledged  facts.  The 
assassinations  and  wholesale  executions,  the  merci- 
less slaughter  of  everyone  whose  intellectual 
opinions  did  not  precisely  coincide  with  the  standard 


ANARCHISM    OUR    DREAM  119 

temporarily  in  vogue,  were  planned  and  ordered,  in 
the  name  of  progress,  by  mild-mannered,  well- 
meaning  philosophers,  who  were  convinced  that  they 
were  thereby  helping  on  the  millennium.  Though 
the  ruling  majority  in  a  modern  Socialist  State 
might  be  less  enamoured  of  summary  executions,  it 
would  be  no  wit  more  tolerant,  and  would  undoubt- 
edly reduce  society  to  a  state  of  abject  slavery,  or 
else  of  Anarchy. 

Every  prominent  Socialist  rejects  the  suggestion 
that  Socialism  means  slavery;  but  how  many  people 
realise  that  Anarchy  is  the  definite  goal  towards 
which  at  least  some  popular  leaders  of  Socialist 
thought  are  consciously  striving  ?  Not  bomb- 
throwing  Anarchy,  of  course  (though  there  be  some 
English  Socialists  who  regard  even  that  as  a  per- 
missible prelude  to  the  establishment  of  the  "ideal" 
State),  but   "  true  and  noble  Anarchism," 

"That  Anarchist  world,  I  admit,  is  our  dream," 
Mr.  H.  G.  Wells*  states  candidly,  "  we  do  believe 
— well,  I,  at  any  rate,  believe  this  present  world, 
this  planet,  will  some  day  bear  a  race  beyond  our 
most  exalted  and  temerarious  dreams,  a  race 
begotten  of  our  wills  and  the  substance  of  our 
bodies,  a  race,  so  I  have  said  it,  '  who  will  stand 
upon  the  earth  as  one  stands  upon  a  footstool  and 
laugh  and  reach  out  their  hands  amidst  the  stars,' 
but  the  way  to  that  is  through  education  and 
discipline  and  law.  Socialism  is  the  preparation 
for  that  higher  Anarchism;  painfully,  laboriously 
we  mean  to  destroy  false  ideas  of  property  and  self, 
eliminate   unjust    laws  and   poisonous   and  hateful 

»  "  New  Worlds  for  Old,"  p.  257. 


I20  WILLIAM    LANE   SECEDES 

suggestions  and  prejudices,  create  a  system  of  social 
right-dealing  and  a  tradition  of  right-feeling  and 
action.  Socialism  is  the  schoolroom  of  a  true  and 
noble  Anarchism,  wherein  by  training  and  restraint 
we  shall  make  free  men." 

Of  course  Mr.  Wells  does  not  desire  the  imme- 
diate realisation  of  his  dream — the  context  makes 
that  clear — it  is  probable  that  he,  personally,  anti- 
cipates that  his  "hot-eared,  ill-kempt  people"  will 
need  a  good  deal  of  restraint  and  law  and  discipline, 
spread  over  a  considerable  period,  before  he  can  let 
them  loose  with  any  feeling  of  security.  But,  once 
converted  to  his  theory  of  the  ideality  of  Anarchism, 
will  the  "hot-eared,  ill-kempt  people  .  .  .  who," 
as  he  says,  "are  pitiful,  and  weak,  and  vain,  and 
touchy,  almost  beyond  measure,"  be  willing  to  wait 
till  Mr.  Wells  takes  a  less  pessimistic  view  of  their 
limitations?  Will  they  not  rather  in  their  touchy, 
hot-eared  fashion,  call  the  preacher  of  discipline 
and  restraint  a  would-be  tyrant,  and  treat  him  as  the 
New  Australians  treated  Lane?  Will  they  not 
impatiently  set  about  the  instant  "reform"  of  the 
State,  as  the  Girondists,  and  the  Montagnards,  and 
the  New  Australians  set  about  it ;  and  forthwith  set 
up  a  by  no  means  noble  Anarchism  ? 

In  the  words  of  that  amazingly  candid  Socialist, 
Mr.  Bernard  Shaw,*  "  If  our  political  ruin  is  to 
come,  it  will  be  eflfected  by  ardent  reformers,  and 
supported  by  enthusiastic  patriots  as  a  series  of 
ne9essary  steps  in  our  progress," 

•X-  *  *  *  * 

Whatever  his  limitations,   William  Lane  was  at 

*"The  Revolutionists'  Handbook." 


A   DISINTERESTED    LEADER         121 

least  a  disinterested  leader,  inspired  by  the  highest 
motives,  and  with  a  clear  and  definite  idea  of  the  goal 
towards  which  he  desired  to  kick  the  ball  of  State. 
His  successors  were  quite  as  well-meaning,  but 
hardly  equally  clever,  and  entirely  lacked  the 
personal  magnetism  which  is  of  such  value  in  a 
leader.  Leaving  William  Lane  for  the  time  being, 
it  will  be  instructive  to  follow,  for  a  chapter  or  two, 
his  successors'  adventures  in  mis-government. 


\ 


CHAPTER  XII. 

FREE  AND  NOBLE  ANARCHISM. 

After  the  departure  of  William  Lane  from  New 
Australia  it  was  felt  that  the  way  was  clear  for  a 
sane  and  practical  carrying  out  of  the  co-operative 
principle. 

***** 

Now  what  is  tlie  co-operative  principle  ?  How- 
does  it  work  so  far  as  the  appointment  of  officials, 
for  instance,  is  concerned  ?  All  this  is  explained  by 
Laurence  Gronlund  in  "The  Co-operative  Common- 
wealth :  An  Exposition  of  Modern  Socialism."* 
The  author  asserts  that  in  his  "ideal"  State  "personal 
responsibility  and  instant  dismissal  for  failure  will 
permeate  the  whole  service  from  top  to  bottom." 
This  will  be  secured  by  providing  ''first,  that  all 
appointments  be  made  from  below ;  next,  that  the 
directors  stay  in  office  as  long  as  they  give  satisfac- 
tion and  not  a  moment  beyond;  and,  lastly,  that  all 
laws  and  regulations  of  a  general  nature  must  first 
be  ratified  by  those  immediately  interested." 

These  principles  were  considered  wholly  admir- 
able by  the  workers  at  "New  Australia."  But  what 
about  dismissals  ? 

"  Every    directing    official    should    be   given    the 

*  Swan.   Sonnenschein,  Le  Bas  and  Lowrey,  London.     1886. 

122 


TRUE   DEMOCRACY  123 

right  instantly  to  dismiss  anyone  of  his  subordinates 
for  cause  assigned.  .  .  .  When,  then,  a  foreman 
was  inefficient,  he  would  be  removed  instantly, 
without  trial,  by  his  superintendent;  he  again, 
might  be  removed  by  his  bureau-chief — perhaps  for 
abuse  of  poiver  in  removing  the  foreman; — this 
bureau-chief  again,  by  his  department-chief. 

"  But  the  latter  official,  to  whom  shall  he  be 
responsible  ?  .  .  .  Suppose  we  make  every  depart- 
ment chief  liable  to  removal  by  the  whole  body  of 
his  subordinates.  That  is  to  say,  suppose  that, 
whenever  the  workers  of  a  given  department  inclu- 
sive of  foremen,  superintendents,  and  other  officials, 
become  dissatisfied  with  their  chief,  they  all  meet  in 
their  different  localities  and  vote  on  the  dismissal  of 
that  chief,  and  that  he  be  considered  removed  from 
office  the  moment  the  collective  judgment  of  the 
whole  department  is  known,  if  that  judgment  be 
adverse  to  him.  Then  the  bureau-chiefs  immediately 
proceed  to  elect  another  chief  of  department  who 
can  be  removed  in  like  manner,  if  he  should  not 
suit  the  workers." 

From  the  point  of  view  of  the  rank  and  file  there 
could  hardly  be  devised  a  better  means  of  ensuring 
that  all  officials  should  be  principally  concerned  to 
kow-tow  to  the  "  workers."  But  what  about  the 
latter  ? — would  it  be  conversant  with  the  dignity  of 
labour  for  them  to  be  hectored  by  the  very  foremen 
they  had  themselves  elected?     By  no  means! 

"  Can  the  foreman  also  dismiss  any  of  his  workers 
for  inefficiency  or  other  causes?"  the  cliampion  of 
the  rights  of  man  proceeds.  "  For  such  cases  a 
trial  by  his  comrades  might  be  provided,  the  issue 


124  FREE  AND  NOBLE  ANARCHISM 

of  which  might  be  removal  to  a  lower  grade  or  some 
sort  of  compulsion.  Now  is  this  not  Democracy?" 
Undoubtedly  that  is  Democracy — of  a  brand  to 
make  the  weary  labourer  rejoice.  How  such  a 
democratic  system  works  out  in  practice  will 
presently  appear. 


Now  that  the  New  Australians  had  liberty  to 
apply  their  Constitution,  they  lost  no  time  in 
examining  it  with  care  and  with  a  view  to  making 
it  truly  democratic.  Naturally  the  first  step  towards 
this  was  the  alteration  of  the  regulations  which  gave 
the  least  discretionary  powers  to  any  individual. 
In  public  meeting  assembled,  the  colonists  revised 
some  laws  and  added  many  others  (see  Appendix  C), 
which  were  in  their  turn  revised,  and  re-revised  each 
time  an  amateur  law-maker  could  catch  the  public 
fancy  with  any  addition  or  emendation.  The 
unfortunate  Secretary  had  to  work  overtime  in  order 
to  keep  an  accurate  record  of  the  sovereign  people's 
ever-changing  decisions. 

A  glance  at  Appendix  C  shows  that  Mr.  Blatch- 
ford's  dictum,  "the  fact  is  that  under  Socialism 
there  would  be  as  few  officials,  and  as  many  workers, 
as  possible,"  is  not  borne  out  by  the  history  of  New 
Australia.  To  limit  the  powers  of  the  Director  (or 
"Administrator"  as  he  came  to  be  called)  a  Board 
of  Management  was  appointed.  This  Board  was 
composed  of  the  Director,  and  a  Deputy  Director, 
assisted  by  two  managers  from  each  of  the  five 
villaare  settlements  now  established,  who  were  them- 
selves  elected  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  respective 


LIVELY  DEBATES  125 

settlements.  In  addition,  each  division  had  its 
departmental  superintendent,  etc.,  whose  time  was 
largely  taken  up  in  struggling  with  statistics,  which 
had  to  be  furnished  once  a  w-eek  at  least  to  the 
Deputy  Director.  Although  the  total  population 
was  only  217,  there  were,  in  addition  to  the  officials 
already  enumerated,  separate  foremen  over  each  of 
the  following  departments  : — building,  forestry, 
surveying,  farming,  gardening,  stock,  dairy,  black- 
smiths, tinsmiths,  butchers,  bootmakers,  culinary, 
laundry,  educational.  Any  of  these,  as  also  the 
Treasurer,  Secretary,  etc.,  were  liable  to  be  displaced 
at  any  time  by  a  snap-majority  against  them.  As 
there  were  always  a  number  of  opposition  candidates 
desirous  of  occupying  every  official's  place,  vote 
canvassing  went  on  continuously  and  ballots  were 
for  a  lime  of  almost  daily  occurrence. 

By  Rule  30  (see  Appendix  C)  it  was  provided 
that  "Any  twenty-five  members  may  at  any  time 
take  the  initiative  and  convene  a  public  meeting,  of 
which  seven  days  notice  shall  be  given,  for  the 
consideration  of  any  stated  business ;  such  meeting 
may  select  its  own  chairman,  and,  provided  a  two- 
thirds  majority  be  obtained,  at  a  ballot  vote  seven 
clear  days  after  such  meeting,  the  decision  arrived  at 
shall  be  held  valid  and  become  law." 

The  convening  of  public  meetings  was  found  so 
much  more  interesting  than  labour  that  the  new- 
Administrator  could  hardly  sign  his  name  without 
someone  or  other  insisting  on  a  vote,  as  to  whether  it 
was  proper  for  him  to  do  so.  Moreover,  the  debates 
gained  greatly  in  liveliness  from  the  fact  that  some 
of  the  women  attended  regularly,  and  expressed  their 


126  FREE  AND  NOBLE  ANARCHISM 

views  very  forcibly,  and  at  any  length  they  pleased, 
with  lofty  disregard  of  the  Chairman's  ruling.  In 
place  of  the  despotism  of  one  man,  the  colonists  now 
suffered  under  the  infliction  of  an  inconstant  public 
opinion,  which  displaced  officials,  or  made  new 
regulations,  one  day,  only  to  reverse  its  decisions  the 
next.  Under  the  new  regime  no  subordinate  fore- 
man was  entrusted  with  the  smallest  discretionary 
power.  All  applications  for  clothes,  tools,  leave  of 
absence,  etc.,  came  before  the  Board  of  Manage- 
ment, which  wasted  its  time  in  interminable  argu- 
ments over  petty  details,  with  the  result  that 
important  matters  were  hopelessly  neglected. 
Meanwhile  organisation  in  Australia  had  almost 
ceased,  and  no  money  was  coming  in  from  outside; 
it  was  therefore  vitally  necessary  for  all  to  co-operate 
in  revenue-producing  labour. 

Although  enormous  energy  had  been  expended 
in  the  work  of  clearing  the  forest,  to  plant  wheat,  the 
crop  was  unsuitable  for  the  country  and  had  proved 
a  failure.  It  was  therefore  necessary  to  buy  corn 
from  the  natives,  and  the  little  money  remaining 
was  expended  in  this  manner.  In  addition,  a  debt 
of  two  hundred  pounds  was  contracted  for  the 
purchase  of  other  articles.  Why  the  pioneers 
had  not  already  engaged  in  lumbering  operations, 
or  dairy-farming,  for  profit  (they  had  seventy  milch 
cows,  and  butter  brings  a  very  high  price  in  Villa 
Rica),  to  say  nothing  of  cattle  dealing,  it  would  be 
hard  to  explain.  Apparently  the  directors  imag- 
ined, as  our  Socialist  legislators  do,  that  they  could 
for  ever  live  on  capital.  If  any  questioned  the 
advisability  of  this  or  that  expenditure^  there  were 


A  JUDICIAL  DECISION  127 

always  the  contributions  of  ftiture  members  to  look 
forward  to.  By  the  end  of  1894  it  \vas  confidently 
anticipated  that  at  least  2000  more  would  be  brought 
to  the  colony,  and  it  seemed  safe  enough  to  count  in 
advance  upon  their  financial  offerings  to  meet  any 
present  indebtedness — a  line  of  reasoning  identical 
with  that  of  those  municipal  administrators  who 
achieve  present  popularity  by  cheerfully  piling  up 
debts  for  posterity  to  pay. 

With  a  view  to  raising  more  capital  (and  to  give  a 
much-needed  fillip  to  recruiting)  Gilbert  Casey  was 
despatched  to  Australia  with  plenary  powers,  to 
take  over  the  books,  documents,  cash,  "Royal  Tar," 
and  other  securities,  and  to  place  the  organisation 
upon  a  proper  footing.  On  arrival  in  Sydney,  how- 
ever, Casey  found  the  officials  of  the  Association  not 
disposed  to  give  him  much  assistance,  since  they 
were  strongly  on  the  side  of  William  Lane.  Casey 
quite  expected  some  thousands  of  pounds  w-orth  of 
assets  to  be  handed  over,  but  in  this  he  w-as  sorely 
disappointed.  When  he  requested  the  Australian 
Secretary  to  make  the  necessary  transfers  he  was 
informed  that  the  "Royal  Tar"  was  heavily  mort- 
gaged, and  that  no  assets  could  be  handed  over  until 
certain  onerous  conditions  had  been  complied  with. 
The  situation  was  rendered  still  more  awkward  by  a 
judgment,  delivered  in  the  District  Court,  in  favour 
of  J.  H.  Smiles  (a  member  of  the  New  Australia 
Association,  who  had  contributed  all  he  possessed 
although  he  had  not  yet  embarked  for  Sotith 
America)  who  claimed  the  return  of  the  balance  of 
his  contribution,  over  and  above  the  ;;^io  deposit 
money.     As  soon  as  this  decision  was  made  known 


128  FREE  AND  NOBLE  ANARCHISM 

an  enormous  number  of  similar  claims  arose  against 
the  Association,  and  the  officials  were  at  their  wit's 
end  to  know  what  to  do.  Casey's  own  position  was 
particularly  embarrassing  since  his  footsteps  were 
dogged  by  unfortunates,  who  had  paid  in  their  all 
to  the  Association,  and  were  left  stranded  in 
Adelaide  or  Sydney.  Among  the  most  pressing 
problems  demanding  his  attention  was  the  case  of 
seventeen  most  respectable  women,  wives  of  some 
of  the  settlers  who  left  with  the  first  contingent  in 
July,  1893.  It  had  been  arranged  that  the  husbands 
should  go  first  to  prepare  a  home,  and  that  their 
wives  should  sail  by  one  of  the  later  boats.  In  the 
meantime  they  were  herded  together  in  a  four- 
roomed  cottage,  penniless,  but  provided  for  by 
orders  from  the  Association's  secretary  on  local 
tradespeople.  As  eighteen  months  had  elapsed 
already,  the  husbands  were  naturally  indignant  with 
the  Association  for  not  dispatching  the  seventeen 
stranded  women  to  Paraguay,  and  Casey  had 
instructions  to  attend  to  the  matter  without  delay. 
When  he  reached  Australia  he  found,  to  his  horror 
and  dismay,  that  the  tradespeople  had  long  since 
refused  to  give  them  further  supplies,  and  that  the 
bailiffs  were  ejecting  them  from  the  house  for  non- 
payment of  rent.  A  woman,  whose  husband  had 
contributed  ;6400  to  the  Association,  had  to  depend 
on  charity  for  a  crust  to  eat  at  Christmas  1894. 

The  position  of  the  other  stranded  folk,  who  had 
already  passed  nearly  two  years  in  tents  awaiting 
permission  to  sail,  was  serious  enough,  but  the 
plight  of  the  seventeen  women,  separated  by 
thousands  of  miles  of  ocean  from  their  husbands, 


A  PLAIN  STATEMENT  129 

was  desperate  indeed.  In  iheir  interest  Casey  took 
the  courageous  course  of  issuing  a  plain  statement 
to  the  press,  ahhough  he  knew  that  this  course 
would  produce  a  plentiful  crop  of  hostile  criticism, 
and  add  to  the  difficulties  of  further  organisation. 
The  appeal  was  addressed  to  the  Unionists,  Demo- 
crats, Socialists,  and  members  of  the  New  Australia 
Association,  in  Queensland. 

"  I  am  personally  known  to  a  very  large  number 
of  you,"  he  wrote.  "  I  have  done  some  fairly 
conscientious  work  for  all  of  you,  and  have  been 
paid  for  the  same.  Still,  I  fancy  that  there  is  some- 
thing outside  of  the  mere  cash  payment  that  gives 
me  the  right  to  claim  your  assistance  now.  I  have 
undertaken  the  gigantic  task  of  re-organising  the 
New  Australia  movement  and  I  want  your  help. 
I  want  to  deal  fairly,  squarely,  and  aboveboard  with 
those  I  am  working  for  and  with.  This  appeal  is 
issued  upon  my  own  responsibility,  in  order  that  I 
may  succeed  in  the  task  I  have  undertaken.  To  do 
that  I  must  have  the  assistance  of  outsiders  just 
now,  because  our  Association  has  been  left  abso- 
lutely stone  broke;  because  it  has  a  number  of 
unfortunate  women  and  children  left  on  its  hands 
whose  husbands  and  fathers  have  been  in  Paraguay 
for  the  last  twelve  months ;  because  it  is  cruelty  to 
let  this  continue  any  longer  through  the  fear  of 
being  sneered  at  by  those  who  misunderstand  or 
have  no  sympathy  with  the  movement ;  because 
many  of  our  members  gave  up  all  their  possessions 
to  the  Association  officials,  left  their  employment  as 
instructed,  and  have  been  in  destitute  circumstances 
ever  since;    these  unfortunates  cannot  be  expected 


I30  FREE  AND  NOBLE  ANARCHISM 

to  do  a  great  deal  towards  assisting  others,  though 
they  are  doing  their  level  best;  because  there  is  no 
hope  of  the  Association  getting  anything  out  of  the 
"Tar"  or  other  property;  because  it  is  better  Lo 
abandon  the  attempt  than  fool  round  with  the  law ; 
because  it  is  right  to  send  these  people  across ; 
because  ^50*  will  send  them  all  to  their  husbands 
and  fathers ;  because  finally  a  small  sum  from  each 
of  our  friends  w^ill  do  what  is  needed,  and  my  trust 
in  men  and  women  is  great  enough  to  make  me  feel 
absolutely  certain  that  this  money  will  be  received 
before  the  first  week  in  January." 

Casey's  intentions  were  good,  but  it  would  really 
have  been  kinder  on  his  part  to  advise  the  stranded 
members  of  the  association  to  beg  their  bread  rather 
than  proceed  to  New  Australia.  However,  he  still 
had  faith  in  the  great  scheme,  and  began  to  enrol 
fresh  recruits  in  face  of  a  strong  opposition.  By 
this  time  (January,  1895)  one  or  two  of  the  seceders 
had  contrived  to  get  back  to  Australia,  and  did  all  in 
their  power  to  dissuade  others  from  sailing. 

"  It  makes  me  sad  to  hear  that  they  are  so  mis- 
guided as  to  go  there,  little  thinking  what  they  will 
have  to  encounter,"  wrote  Mr.  Pope  in  the  Adelaide 
Advertiser.  "The  picture  looks  bright  at  a  distance 
but  they  have  not  seen  it  as  I  have— seen  strong 
men  break  down  under  it  and  weep  like  children 
because  of  their  inability  to  help  themselves  in  the 
position  in  which  they  were  placed.  ...  If  they 
will  not  profit  by  the  experience  of  others  God  help 
them  !  .  .  .  I  do  not  mind  single  men  going,  they 
can  battle  for  themselves ;    but  to  send  women  and 

*  Probably  a  misprint  for  £500.— Author. 


THE  TABLES  TURNED  i^i 


.V 


children  is  a  crime.  If  I  can  persuade  only  one  or 
two  of  the  women  not  to  go  I  shall  feel  that  I  have 
not  striven  in  vain." 

But  all  such  warnings  proved  useless.  William 
Lane's  partisans  had  already  explained  away  the 
secessions  and  such  statements  as  those  above 
were  discounted  in  advance.  On  January  i8th, 
1895,  thirty-one  sailed  by  the  S.S.  "Hauroto" 
(including  nine  members  of  one  family  who  are 
still  at  New  Australia).  In  all  fifty  or  sixty  more 
colonists  were  dispatched  to  "New  Australia"  and 
about  ;£,'300  in  cash.  As  their  passage  money 
could  not  be  raised,  some  two  hundred  destitute 
folk,  who  had  paid  in  their  all  to  the  Association, 
were  left  behind  to  accept  charity  from  the  much 
abused  Capitalists  and  curse  the  day  they  had  ever 
heard  of  Socialism.  In  the  old  days,  when  they  so 
heartily  endorsed  the  policy  of  confiscating  the 
possessions  of  the  well-to-do,  they  had  never 
expected  to  be  hoist  with  their  own  petard  ! 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  ASSOCIATION  TAKES  TO  BUSINESS. 

While  Casey  was  in  Australia,  hunting  up  fresh 
funds  and  re-estabHshing  the  recruiting  base,  the 
ever-changing  officials  in  Paraguay  were  devising 
fresh  schemes  for  frittering  away  each  contribution 
as  it  came  to  hand.  On  all  sides  they  were 
surrounded  by  magnificent  forest,  full  of  cedar, 
mahogany,  teak,  and  other  valuable  woods,  which 
only  required  to  be  chopped  down,  squared,  and 
drawn  by  bullocks  to  Villa  Rica  or  Caballero  in 
order  to  produce  an  excellent  revenue.  Some  idea 
of  the  possibilities  of  this  trade  may  be  gathered 
from  the  following  notes  of  the  use  to  which  eleven 
of  the  sixty  indigenous  woods  of  Paraguay  are  put, 
together  with  the  prices  paid  for  them. 

"(i)  Curupai  :  A  hard  red  wood,  very  durable 
and  much  used  for  sleepers,  piles,  etc.  It  com- 
mands a  good  market  in  the  Argentine,  the  price  in 
Asuncion  being  about  2S.  the  vara  of  lo  by  lo 
inches. 

(2)  Cedar  :  Though  inferior  in  grain  and  scent  to 
the  Cuban  variety,  large  quantities  of  this  wood  are 
exported  to  the  Argentine  Republic  and  to 
Germany,  the  trade  with  the  latter  country  having 
sprung  into  existence  at  the  time  of  the  Spanish- 
American  War.  There  is  a  considerable  demand 
for  Paraguayan  cedar  in  Bremen,  where  it  is  used 
for  the  manufacture  of  cigar-boxes.     It  is,  strictly 

132 


VALUABLE  TIMBER  133 

speaking-,  more  of  a  mahogany  than  of  a  cedar,  but 
has  the  grain  and  scent  of  the  latter.  Price,  2S.  per 
vara,  10  by  10  inches. 

(3)  Laurel  negro  (black  laurel)  is  used  for  sleepers 
but  not  being  as  durable  as  curupai  and  being 
inflammable  the  demand  is  not  great.  Price,  is.6d. 
per  post. 

(4)  Palo  de  rosa  (rosewood)  is  similar  to  the 
English  rosewood  but  lighter  in  colour.  Properly 
seasoned  it  takes  a  high  polish  and  is  suitable  for 
light  furniture.  It  also  possesses  medicinal  quali- 
ties.    Price  uncertain, 

(5)  Ibird-no  is  a  hard  flexible  wood  for  which 
there  is  a  growing  demand  for  carriage  and  ship- 
building as  it  does  not  warp  or  crack.  Importers 
in  the  United  Kingdom  have  expressed  great  satis- 
faction with  samples  received  and  state  that  it  may 
replace  teak  to  a  great  extent,  the  grain  being  very 
close  and  well  adapted  to  resist  the  action  of  sun  and 
water.  Its  one  defect  is  its  heaviness,  but  in  spite 
of  this  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  it  will  soon 
command  an  increased  sale  in  Europe.  Price, 
about  2s  the  vara  of  10  by  10  inches. 

(6)  Lapacho  (black  and  yellow)  :  There  is  a  great 
demand  for  this  wood  in  Buenos  Aires  where  it  is 
used  for  making  rough  carts  and  spans  for  bridges. 
Though  sometimes  used  also  for  sleepers  it  is  not 
well  adapted  for  this  purpose,  as,  unless  covered 
over  with  soil,  it  is  apt  to  take  fire  from  the  sparks 
from  the  engine. 

(7)  Peteriby  negro  is  used  locally  for  furniture 
making,  and  being  easily  worked  and  capable  of 
taking  a  high  polish  should,   when  better  knowm, 

J 


134  ASSOCIATION  TAKES  TO  BUSINESS 

command  a  sale  in   Europe.      Price,  about  3s.  the 
vara. 

(8)  Quebracho  Colorado,  is  the  most  important  of 
Paraguayan  woods,  considerable  quantities  being 
exported  to  Germany,  chiefly  to  Hamburg,  where 
a  large  amount  is  alw-ays  kept  in  stock.  Its  prin- 
cipal use  is  for  tanning,  and  the  demand  is  increasing 
every  year.  German  capital  finds  a  remunerative 
investment  in  this  wood,  and  a  line  of  steamers  is 
employed  solely  for  this  trade.  There  is  one  extract 
factory  in  this  country,  but  probably  several  more 
will  be  established  before  long.  The  price  of 
quebracho  Colorado  delivered  in  Hamburg  is  about 
66s.  per  ton.  According  to  an  analysis  recently 
made  quebracho  logs  produce  an  average  of  25  per 
cent,  of  tanning  substance  and  a  maximum  of  29 
per  cent.  Paraguayan  quebracho  contains  more 
tanning  extract  and  is  of  a  finer  colour  than  that 
found  in  Argentine. 

(9)  Urundi-mi  is  one  of  the  best  hard  woods  of 
the  country  and  possesses  many  of  the  qualities  of 
the  Curupai,  being  even  more  durable.  Price, 
about  2S.  the  vara  of  10  by  10  inches. 

(10)  Tatan^  is  a  beautiful  golden-coloured  wood 
resembling  satinwood  and  taking  a  very  high 
polish.  Boxes  made  of  it  secure  the  contents  from 
insects  of  all  kinds.  This  wood  is  of  a  hard  close 
grain  and  will  last  for  years  in  the  earth  or  under 
water.  Locally  it  is  used  for  making  stems  and 
sterns  of  ships.  Price,  about  2s.  4d.  per  vara  of 
10  by  10  inches. 

(11)  Palo  Santo,  Lignum-vittB  :  A  heavy  dark 
wood  of  which  there  is  but  a  limited  supply.     It  is 


PLEASING   AMUSEMENT  i:,5 

used  in  place  of  '  bronzes  '  for  bearings  in  engines 
and  screw  shafts.  Pulley  and  block  wheels  are  also 
made  of  it.  Palo  Santo  has  the  medicinal  qualities 
of  the  Lignum-vita;.  Price,  about  £6  per  ton  in 
Asuncion.  Hitherto  it  has  been  chiefly  exported  to 
France  where  it  has  been  known  to  fetch  ;^io  per 
ton."* 

In  the  vast  forests  on  the  600  square  miles  which 
comprised  the  New  Australia  concession  most,  if 
not  all,  of  the  above  were  to  be  found  in  plenty,  as 
well  as  dozens  of  other  varieties  of  wood  which 
enjoyed  a  local  market.  Indeed  lumbering  was  the 
industry  on  which  the  prospectors  had  relied,  in 
their  report,  for  revenue,  and  it  required  no  capital 
outlay  to  pursue  it ;  nothing  but  hard  work  in  fact 
• — but  this  was  a  fatal  qualification  in  the  colonists' 
eyes.  For  their  own  benefit  any  of  them  would 
cheerfully  have  undertaken  the  work  (at  present, 
under  individualism,  it  is  a  staple  industry),  but 
none  could  see  why  they  should  sweat  in  the  forest 
while  others  followed  less  arduous  occupations. 
So  the  timber  took  care  of  itself  for  awhile  and  the 
Board  of  Management  found  pleasing  amusement 
in  experimenting  with  the  planting  of  ramie,  and 
bought  a  costly  but  inellicient  machine  to  prepare 
the  produce  for  the  market.  Ten  acres  were  planted 
with  the  fibre  (used  in  the  production  of  imitation 
silk)  and  immense  care  lavished  upon  it  in  the  hope 
of  realising  enormous  profits.  Needless  to  say  this 
expectation  was  not  realised  and  the  whole  thing 
proved  a  ghastly  failure. 

It  might  be  argued  that  this  result  had  nothing  to 
*  Foreign  Office  Report,  Annual  Series,  No.  2G10,  .May  1901. 


136  ASSOCIATION  TAKES  TO  BUSINESS 

do  with  the  nature  of  Socialism,  but  was  due  to  the 
stupidity  of  the  Board  of  Management.  Experience 
elsewhere  justifies  the  conclusion,  how^ever,  that 
such  mad  schemes  have  a  fatal  fascination  for 
all  "  reformers."  To  quote  the  frank  words  of 
General  Rossel,  who  commanded  the  French 
Socialist  Army  during  the  Communist  rising  of 
1871  :  "They  study  with  good  faith  the  works  of 
those  philosophical  day-dreamers  who  promise  them 
a  Paradise  on  earth  ;  they  are  desirous  of  suddenly 
transforming  the  organisation  of  labour  .  .  .  and 
three-fourths  of  their  time  they  are  the  mere  dupes 
of  their  innovatin,'^  experiments.  Incapable  of 
managing  their  own  affairs,  they  are  still  more 
incapable  of  managing  public  affairs." 

Besides  the  timber  industry,  there  were  many  other 
avocations  in  which  the  colonists  might  have 
engaged  with  profit.  They  possessed  2500  head  of 
cattle,  in  addition  to  70  milch  cows  and  100  horses. 
Dairy-farming  might  have  provided  a  useful 
income,  while  the  fattening  up  of  cattle  for  market 
would  have  yielded  a  splendid  revenue.  At  the 
present  time  a  dozen  or  more  of  the  colonists,  work- 
ing for  themselves,  make  an  excellent  living  at  the 
trade,  the  Colony  grazing  land  being  unrivalled  for 
this  purpose.  By  extraordinary  perversity,  how- 
ever, energy  was  concentrated  upon  market  garden- 
ing, though  there  was  no  possible  market  for  the 
produce. 

The  question  whether  proper  care  would  be  taken 
of  common  property,  under  a  Socialist  regime,  is 
one  that  Socialist  writers  answer  confidently. 
"Only  a  lunatic  would  wantonly  destroy  a  harvest," 


WANTON   DESTRUCTION  137 

says  the  author  of  "  Merrie  England,"  "unless  he 
might  thereby  reap  some  personal  advantage." 
That  was  not  the  experience  of  New  Australia,  for 
wanton  destruction  of  harvests  and  reckless  misuse 
of  implements  were  common. 

"  There  is  absolutely  no  regard  for  common 
property,"  wrote  "Colonist"  in  the  Pall  Mall 
Gazette.  "  Tools  and  implements  are  lost,  mislaid 
or  destroyed  in  the  most  disgraceful  manner.  At 
the  Las  Ovejas  settlements  last  year  the  melon  beds 
were  trampled  on  by  adults  and  children.  Thousands 
were  broken  open  and  not  one  was  allowed  to  come 
to  maturity." 

The  wholesale  loss  or  appropriation  of  tools  was 
carried  to  such  an  extreme  that  when  harvest  time 
came  there  was  nothing  to  reap  with.  "In  the 
farming  department,  the  sight  of  a  number  of  men 
and  boys  working  overtime,  snipping  off  the  ears 
of  wheat  into  a  bag  with  table  knives,  in  a  field 
which  averaged  one  bushel  to  the  acre,  was  no  less 
admirable  as  indicating  heroic  pluck  than  the 
picture  of  a  gang  of  men  raking  rows  of  cornstalks 
with  their  hoe  handles."*  The  wheat  of  course  was 
a  failure,  but  the  maize  harvest  was  gloriously 
abundant,  so  much  so  in  fact  that  the  aijricultural 
workers  were  unable  to  garner  it  without  help. 
Naturally  enough,  they  applied  to  the  Board  of 
Management  for  temporary  assistance  from  other 
departments,  but  the  strict  Trade  Unionists  of  the 
community  were  up  in  arms. 

"What?"  they   cried.     "Permit  cattle  drovers, 

*  Letter  from  A.  Macdonald. 


138  ASSOCIATION  TAKES  TO  BUSINESS 

or  bottle  washers,  to  lend  a  hand  in  the  harvest 
field?     Heaven  forbid  !" 

"  Well,  if  you  take  up  that  attitude,  the  farming 
section  will  insist  on  their  eight-hour  day  and  refuse 
to  work  a  minute  overtime.  Then  the  rain  will 
come  and  the  harvest  will  be  ruined.  The  welfare 
of  the  community  is  at  stake  !" 

Naturally  enough  this  appeal  conveyed  nothing 
to  them.  Had  it  been  their  own  corn  they  would 
have  worked  all  night  to  bring  it  in,  but  as  for  the 
community — that  was  another  story !  As  de 
Tocqueville  remarks,  "  Individual  interest  is  the 
indispensable  incentive  to  labour  and  economy.' 
Having  no  incentive  but  the  good  of  all,  not  a  soul 
would  lift  a  finger  to  help,  so  the  agriculturalists 
shrugged  their  shoulders  and  w^orked  only  their 
bare  eight  hours,  with  the  result  that  much  of 
Nature's  bounty  was  smashed  down  by  rain  and 
abandoned  to  the  pigs. 

"  For  a  long  time  sentiment  was  the  ruling  factor 
in  New  Australia,  business  being  left  in  the  back- 
ground ;  now  both  sentiment  and  business  are  in 
the  background.  For  the  moment  there  seems  to 
be  nothing  but  mutual  distrust,  greed,  jealousy  and 
unkindness,"  wrote  Rogers  in  his  Report.  Then 
with  truly  Socialistic  optimism,  he  adds,  "  But  I 
do  not  think  it  is  more  than  a  passing  distemper. 
Necessity  will  force  attention  to  business  and  senti- 
ment may  then  take  its  right  place."* 

It  was  not  long  indeed  before  the  Board  of 
Management  took  to  business— with  disastrous 
results.       For   some   time   the   colonists   had  been 

*  Eeijort  to  the  British  Board  of  the  New  Australia  Association. 


RUSHED    CONTRACTS  139 

living  on  short  commons,  but  nevertheless  there  was 
a  heavy  debt  and  the  supplies  of  clothing,  stores, 
etc.,  were  well-nigh  exhausted.  There  was  no 
remunerative  occupation  in  progress,  and  the  stream 
of  subscriptions  from  England  and  Australia,  had 
dried  up.  The  leaders  were  faced  with  two  alter- 
natives, either  (i)  they  must  absolutely  set  their 
people  to  some  productive  labour,  such  as  lumber- 
ing, or  (2)  they  must  raise  money  from  outside. 

With  tender  regard  for  the  weary  muscles  of 
Labour  they  chose  the  latter  alternative,  and  actually 
gave  away  for  a  song  their  own  people's  chief 
means  of  livelihood.  Characteristically,  the  con- 
tracts were  rushed  through  by  the  business  agent 
without  the  consent  of  the  bulk  of  the  colonists.  A 
howl  of  dismay  arose  when  the  latter  learned  to 
what  their  trusted  leaders  had  committed  them. 

As  has  been  noted  already,  the  colonists  owned 
at  one  time  2500  head  of  cattle.  These  were  distri- 
buted on  different  grazing  grounds,  and  the  heads 
of  the  farming  department  had  the  haziest  idea  how 
many  remained.  There  was  an  impression  that 
there  should  still  be  about  2000  without  reckoning 
natural  increase,  and  it  was  decided  to  dispose  of 
half  that  ■  number.  "The  contract  was  rushed 
through  before  the  people  had  time  to  consider  it, 
and  as  hurriedly  carried  out.  The  men  of  Loma 
Rugua  had  at  once  petitioned  against  it,  but  it  was 
too  late.  The  contract  was  for  1000  head  at  13s.  6d.* 
per  head,  calves  up  to  two  years  being  thrown  in," 
stated   Rogers  in   his  Report.      "  The  cattle  were 

*  The  Report  states  the  price  as  27  dollars.  The  valuo  of  the 
dollar  was  6d.  at  that  time.     (It  is  now  less.) 


140  ASSOCIATION  TAKES  TO  BUSINESS 

mustered,  when,  to  the  surprise  of  everyone,  not  a 
thousand  head  could  be  found  !  There  were  928 
sold,  and  some  1500  calves  thrown  in  for  nothing.* 
Evidently  there  had  been  a  huci'e  blunder,  and  yet, 
owing  to  the  disgraceful  want  of  system,  no  one 
was  responsible.  The  price  at  which  they  were  sold 
was,  I  am  told,  ridiculous,  as  shortly  afterwards  the 
hides  alone  fetched  that  figure.  Had  the  cattle  been 
sold  in  small  lots,  it  is  reckoned  that  one-half  of  the 
number  sold  would  have  realised  more  than  the 
contract." 

Still  more  remarkable  was  the  timber  contract, 
dated  February  6th,  1895.  It  was  hardly  in  accord- 
ance with  the  original  spirit  of  their  scheme  for  the 
Board  of  Management  to  enter  into  a  "capitalistic" 
contract,  giving  a  certain  outsider  the  exclusive 
right  of  cutting  timber  on  their  territory  for  a  period 
of  three  years  for  a  ludicrously  small  consideration. 
Not  till  the  contract  was  signed  did  they  realise  that 
the  colonists  were  no  longer  entitled  to  conduct 
lumbering  operations  themselves  1  It  seemed  as  if 
the  Board  were  suicidally  determined  to  cut  them- 
selves ofif  from  all  possible  sources  of  revenue. 
**  After  careful  thought,  in  the  light  of  previous 
contracts  and  schemes,"  says  Rogers  darkly,  "  I 
am  of  the  opinion  that  interests,  other  than  those  of 
the  colony,  were  involved  in  the  matter."  It  might 
be  replied  that,  at  any  rate  the  contractor  was  under 
no  obligation  to  consider  the  interests  of  the 
Colony. 

•  The  Keport  says  that  4,500  calves  were  thrown  in  for  nothing, 
but  as  this  would  far  exceed  the  natural  increase,  it  is  probably 
a  printer's  error. 


DISASTROUS   EFFECT  141 

When  the  disastrous  effect  of  these  two  contracts 
became  known  there  were  those  who  did  not  hesitate 
to  declare  that  they  had  been  betrayed  by  their 
officials,  and  some  came  forward  with  a  proposition 
very  much  hke  this,  "What's  the  good  of  pretend- 
ing to  be  Sociahsts  any  longer?  It  only  gives  the 
cunningest  ones  the  chance  to  feather  their  nests. 
Let's  divide  everything  up  while  there  is  anything 
left  to  divide  and  turn  Individualists—'  each  for 
himself  and  the  devil  take  the  hindmost  !'  " 

As  w  ill  appear  in  the  next  chapter,  brotherly  love 
was  now  a  byword.  Envy,  hatred  and  malice  had 
taken  its  place,  and  the  noble  resolve  to  bear  one 
another's  burdens  had  given  place  to  a  policy  of 
grab. 

NOTE  : — If  corruption  of  any  kind  existed  it  must  have  been 
among  minor  officials,  without  the  knowledge  of  Lane's  successor, 
who  was  a  man  of  sterling  honesty  and  did  more  than  anyone 
else  to  retrieve  the  fortunes  of  the  settlers. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

ALL  FOR  ONE  AND  ONE  FOR  ALL. 

The  injustice  of  equal  sharing  between  industrious 
and  idle,  skilful  and  good-for-nothing,  did  not 
obtrude  itself  particularly  in  New  Australia's  pros- 
perous days,  when  fourteen  bullocks  were  slain 
every  week  and  money  was  abundant,  but  when 
increasing  poverty  made  it  necessary  to  revise  the 
scale  of  living,  and  the  lordly  credit  allowance  was 
reduced  to  a  meagre  pittance,  the  glaring  folly  of 
such  a  scheme  made  itself  apparent.     There  was  a 

lean    wiry  giant    named    M for   instance  to 

whom  hard  labour  was  the  breath  of  life.  Axe  on 
shoulder  he  would  take  himself  off  to  the  forest  and 
bring  tree  after  tree,  with  fibre  hard  as  iron, 
topphng  to  the  ground.  Single-handed  he  made  a 
bigger  clearing  in  six  weeks  than  half  a  dozen  of 
the  "born  tired"  variety  could  accomplish  in  six 
months.  His  earning  capacity  as  a  woodman,  even 
in  Paraguay,  where  w'ages  are  low,  would  be  several 
pounds  a  week.  On  the  other  hand,  take  a  loung- 
ing argumentative  waster  like  X ,   who  was 

never  much  better  than  a  "sundowner"  in 
Australia,  and  whose  scamped  labour  would  be 
dearly  paid  for  by  his  bare  keep.  Would  any  sane 
man  argue  that  both  were  equally  useful  to  the 
community?  At  New  Australia  no  account  was 
taken  of  physical  or  mental  capacity,  and  conse- 
quently both  types  were  served  alike.     As  a  result 

142 


ENDLESS   COMPLICATIONS  143 

there  was  no  incentive  to  industry,  and  the  profit- 
earning  power  of  the  community  was  reduced 
accordingly. 

It  should  be  noted  that  members  were  at  liberty 
to  eat  at  the  common  table  at  a  certain  agreed 
mess-rate  (paid  for  by  deduction  from  the  credit 
value  of  their  labour  checks)  or  to  draw  food  from 
the  stores  at  a  price  tixed  by  a  committee,  and  make 
their  own  cooking  arrangements.  Theoretically, 
all  articles  grown  on  the  establishment  had  to  be 
sold  through  the  store,  so  that  if  a  gardener  ate 
some  of  the  produce  over  which  he  tended,  or  a 
child  picked  a  banana  from  the  thousands  which 
grew  wild,  they  were  robbing  the  community.  In 
practice,  therefore,  though  everything  belonged  to 
all,  it  was  illegal  for  an  individual  to  eat  so  much 
as  a  berry  without  first  calculating  its  value  and 
having  it  debited  against  him  on  his  labour  check. 
As  money  did  not  circulate,  the  endless  complica- 
tions attending  all  negotiations  can  be  better 
imagined  than  described. 

In  this  connection  it  is  interesting  to  recall  one 
of  those  amusing  conundrums  which  Mr.  Blatchford 
sets  himself  in  "  Merrie  England." 

"Under  Socialism,"  he  asks,  "who  would  get 
the  salmon  and  w-ho  would  get  the  red-herring?" 

"Perhaps  under  Socialism,"  he  replies,  "the 
salmon  might  be  eaten  by  those  who  catch  it.  At 
present  it  is  not." 

Substitute  chicken  for  salmon  and  the  answer  held 
good  at  New  Australia.  Although  the  chicken 
belonged  to  the  community  as  a  whole  they  were 
seldom  seen  in  the  common  cook-pots.     The  fleet  of 


144  ALL  FOR  ONE,  AND  ONE  FOR  ALL 

foot,  and  the  dexterous  in  concealment,  had  this 
advantage  over  their  mates,  that  they  could  catch 
the  chicken — and  many  illicit  meals  were  enjoyed 
by  certain  of  the  colonists  which  were  not  debited 
against  them  in  the  books. 

By  a  revised  agreement,  dated  May  21st,  1895,  it 
was  decided  that  all  adult  members  were  entitled  to 
a  reduced  credit  of  2s.  i^d.  per  week,  to  spend  as 
they  pleased,  with  a  supplement  of  is.  per  week 
which  must  be  spent  solely  on  necessary  clothing. 
Out  of  this  allowance  there  was  small  margin  avail- 
able for  any  enthusiast  to  spend  on  the  purchase  of 
priceless  art  treasures,  but  then,  as  Gronlund  says  : 
"  But  really  we  do  not  suppose  there  will  be  any 
citizen  in  the  Co-operative  Commonwealth,  when 
some  time  has  elapsed,  who  has  got  ;^20,ooo  to 
squander  on  a  bit  of  canvas,  and  none  should 
deplore  it."  What  the  New  Australian  citizens 
were  more  inclined  to  deplore  was  the  fact  that  none 
had  twenty  shillings  to  replace  a  worn  and  tattered 
suit.  As  children  were  the  care  of  the  community, 
they  also  received  an  allowance,  adjusted,  not 
according  to  size  or  appetite,  but  according  to  age. 
All  alike  under  the  age  of  fifteen  were  allowed  6d. 
weekly  for  clothing,  and  a  graduated  amount  for 
food.*  As  children  were  maintained  under  the 
guardianship  of  parents,  it  foUow-ed  that  those  of  the 
latter  who  were  blessed  with  a  "quiver  full"  drew 
very  heavily  on  the  community's  stores,  although 
they    performed  no   more  labour   than    the   others. 

♦Under  18        2s.     Od.  Under  5        Os.  lOfd. 

15         Is.     6d.  „       1         Os.     3d. 

10        Is.     0|d. 


TWO   INSTANCES  145 

This  fact  naturally  created  many  heart-burnings. 
Consider  two  c<')ncrete  instances:  — 

A  man  and  wife  with  three  daughters,  aged  18, 
16,  and  2  respectively,  and  two  sons  aged  12  and  6, 
would  draw  17s.  4d.  worth  of  articles  weekly  from 
the  common  stock,  and  live  comparatively  in 
clover,*  although  only  the  man  did  any  profit- 
making  work.      On  the  other  hand,   five  bachelor 

adults  of  M 's  type  and  a  hard-working  boy 

of  fifteen,  with  tremendous  waste  of  tissue  to  be 
renewed,  and  brawny  frames  to  be  covered  with 
clothing,  would  get  only  17s.  7|d.  between  them  for 
a  full  week's  arduous  work.  The  family  would 
naturally  mess  together;  they  could  live  well,  be 
well  clothed,  and  have  a  comfortable  unused  credit 
on  the  community's  books  put  by  for  a  rainy  day. 
The  six  hard-working  bachelors,  on  the  contrary, 
would  be  so  perilously  near  to  starvation  that  they 
might  be  in  danger  of  eating  one  another  !  They 
would  not  have  even  the  consolation  of  knowing 
that  the  well-fed  man's  wife  and  grown-up  daughter 
were  helping  things  along  by  doing  their  (the 
bachelors')  washing.  Bearing  in  mind  that  "Unless 
woman  repudiates  her  womanliness,  her  duty  to  her 
husband,  to  her  children,  to  society,  to  the  law,  and 
to  everyone  but  herself,  she  cannot  emancipate  her- 
self. Therefore  woman  has  to  repudiate  duly 
altogether, "f  many  ladies  simply  repudiated  their 

*  It  should  be  noted  that  living  is  extraordinarily  cheap  in 
Paraguay.  Outside  the  towns  £20  per  annum  is  sufficient  to  feed 
and  clothe  an  average-sized  family  in  comfort,  provided  that  they 
grow  their  own  vegetables. 

t  Fabian  Essays. 


146  ALL  FOR  ONE,  AND  ONE  FOR  ALL 

obligations  and  refused  to  do  any  communal  work, 
though  the  regulation  was  that  all  w-ashing  must  be 
divided  up  amongst  the  women. 

"There  is  not  a  person  here  who  could  honestly 
tell  you  that  he  has  not  degenerated  under  these 
conditions,"  wrote  Mr.  A.  Macdonald.  "Com- 
munism certainly  renders  people  more  selfish.  At 
the  general  dining  table  each  has  his  private  bottle 
of  treacle,  which  he  stows  away  between  meals 
under  his  pillows  or  elsewhere  as  best  he  can  ;  while 
quite  a  number  carry  their  utensils  to  and  from  the 
table  with  them.  Knives,  forks,  etc.,  have  an 
amazing  faculty  for  disappearing  in  a  communistic 
settlement." 

Another  colonist,  in  a  letter  to  the  Pall  Mall 
Gazette,  bore  out  this  statement,  and  touched  upon 
a  still  more  serious  matter.  After  describing  the 
w-holesale  wastefulness  already  quoted  (Chapter  V) 
he  adds  :  "  There  is  no  probability  of  education  for 
half  the  children,  and  they  have  been  sadly 
neglected.  Some  of  the  little  ones  may  be  seen 
limping  around  with  their  feet  in  a  terrible  state 
from  neglect.  The  atmosphere  of  gross  materialism 
is  most  deplorable  in  its  effects.  There  is  no  doubt 
that  people  professing  some  faith  are  the  most 
pleasant  to  live  among." 

Dreadful  as  this  picture  of  the  Godless  Eden  is, 
the  settlers  had  not  yet  plumbed  the  abysmal  depths 
of  misery  which  they  were  destined  to  experience. 
Although  it  was  estimated  that  if  every  male  adult 
could  earn  ^y  a  year  the  colony  would  thrive  and 
pay  its  way,  even  this  humble  achievement  was 
beyond  their  powers.     The  knowledge  that  even  the 


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THE   PINCH   OF   WANT  147 

laziest  drones  would  share  in  the  fruit  of  their 
industry  paralysed  the  energies  of  the  most  indus- 
trious. Soon  all  money  was  exhausted,  next  the 
stores  were  entirely  depleted  of  their  stock,  and  the 
commonest  necessities  of  life  were  unobtainable. 


The  most  devout  believers  in  the  Marxian  faith 
might  well  be  puzzled  to  account  for  the  difference 
between  Socialist  theory  and  Socialist  practice  as 
exemplified  at  New  Australia.  Every  soul  had 
started  by  believing,  with  Gronlund,  "To  go  a  little 
into  details;  Suppose  they  go  to  work  and  establish 
first  of  all,  a  normal  day,  say  of  eight  hours,  and 
pay  the  workers  twice  the  wages  which  each  one 
has  been  receiving  on  an  average  for  the  ten  years 
immediately  preceding.  We  have  no  doubt  that 
the  wages  can  be  raised  and  the  working  day 
shortened,  that  much  with  perfect  safety,  consider- 
ing the  enormous  advantages  of  Co-operative 
Industry." 

Since,  in  the  bad  old  "Capitalistic  lands  the 
frugal  workman  only  gets  about  one-third  of  his 
earnings,"*  it  seemed  obvious  that  the  "workers" 
should  be  three  times  as  prosperous  at  New 
Australia  as  in  the  old  days.  The  fact  was,  how- 
ever, that  they  had  never  before  felt  the  pinch  of 
want  so  grievously.  Even  the  most  industrious 
lived  in  a  state  of  beggary.  What  was  the  explana- 
tion ?  Capitalists  being  eliminated,  who,  now,  was 
robbing  them  of  the  fruits  of  industry  ?  Evidently 
"  Society."     Referring  again  to  that  most  illumin- 

•  "  Merrie  England." 


148  ALL  FOR  ONE,  AND  ONE  FOR  ALL 

ating  work,  "The  Co-operative  Commonwealth," 
it  appears  that  Mr.  Blatchford  is  wrong  in  thinking 
that  "  under  Sociahsm  he  (the  worker)  would  get 
all  his  earnings." 

"A  man  is  entitled  to  the  full  proceeds  of  his 
labour— against  any  other  individual,  but  not 
against  Society,''  says  Gronlund.  "  Society  is  not 
bound  to  reward  a  man  either  in  proportion  to  his 
services,  nor  yet  to  his  wants,  but  according  to 
expediency." 

What  becomes  of  the  surplus  which  Society  under 
Socialism  deems  it  inexpedient  to  distribute,  Gron- 
lund does  not  explain.  It  would  have  puzzled  Marx 
himself,  at  New  Australia,  to  track  down  the  cause 
which  kept  the  coffers  both  of  Society,  and  of  the 
most  industrious  individuals,  empty,  when,  theoretic- 
ally, they  should  have  been  full.  Being  well  primed 
with  the  belief  that  any  individual's  adversity 
necessarily  implies  unjust  profits  on  the  part  of 
some  other  individual,  some  of  the  profounder 
philosophers  at  New  Australia  became  well-nigh 
addled  in  the  effort  to  discover  what  mysterious 
being  was  laying  up  a  fat  bank  balance  from  the 
surplus-value  of  their  labour.  It  took  them  a  long 
time  to  discern  that,  under  Socialism,  the  interests 
of  Society  and  the  individual  are  opposed,  and  they 
actually  eat  up  one  another's  profits. 


In  this  predicament  what  were  the  New 
Australians  to  do  ?  Of  course  they  lost  no  time  in 
applying  to  the  ever-patient  Paraguayan  Govern- 
ment,  which  granted  them  a  monthly  subsidy  of 


THE  COLOUR   LINE  149 

$Soo  (about  ^20)  to  keep  them  from  starvation. 
For  the  rest,  they  determuied  to  make  a  great  effort 
to  attract  moneyed  recruits  from  Great  Britain, 
altering  the  Constitution  so  as  to  extract  a  minimum 
contribution  of  ^30  per  head  only,  members  paying 
their  own  passage-money,  and  having  three  months' 
grace  before  they  need  throw  all  their  possessions 
into  the  common  fund.  Furthermore,  they  departed 
so  far  from  the  original  scheme  as  to  "offer  grants 
of  lands  to  individuals,  or  groups  of  individuals, 
not  members  of  the  Association,  on  terms  to  be 
arranged  between  such  individuals  and  the  Board 
of  Management  or  its  duly  authorised  agents." 

This  offer  induced  a  body  of  Englishmen,  includ- 
ing Z ,  to  arrive  at  New  Australia  with  the 

intention  of  founding  a  species  of  colony  within  the 
colony,  but  on  the  strictest  Communistic  lines.  Of 
course  their  attempt  failed,  as  all  such  attempts  must 
fail  when  those  who  participate  spend  more  time  in 
discussing  their  theories  than  in  hard  work.  It  was 
not  long  before  they  broke  up  and  most  of  them  left 
the  country.  Being  better  educated  than  most  of 
the     original     colonists     and     persuasive-tongued 

withal,  Z ,  who  remained,  speedily  became  a 

dominating  influence  upon  the  settlement. 

Until  this  time  the  principle  of  excluding  coloured 
persons    froni    New     Australia    had    been    strictly 

adhered  to,   but   now   Z began   to   urge  his 

fellow  citizens  to  vote  for  the  inclusion  of  natives  in 
die  benefits  of  the  colony — a  step  which  followed 
logically  enough  from  the  belief  in  liberty,  equality, 
and  fraternity  which  all  professed. 

In  spite  of  what  they  had  already  suffered  through 


ISO  ALL  FOR  ONE,  AND  ONE  FOR  ALL 

listening  to  the  eloquence  of  silvery-tongued  orators, 
the  New  Australians  were  persuaded  to  agree,  and 
the  fiat  went  forth  that  natives  should  be  allowed  to 
settle  on  the  Colony  land. 

It  is  all  very  well  for  theorists  to  argue  that  there 
is  no  difference  between  the  coloured  and  the  white 
man,  except  for  the  hue  of  his  skin,  but  those  who 
have  lived  among  natives  know  well  that  this  is  not 
so.  The  Guarani  Indian  of  Paraguay  is  an  amiable, 
indolent  person,  who  is  contented  to  sleep  and 
smoke  under  the  shade  of  his  galpone,  while  his 
women  folk  work  for  him.  Of  garments  he  requires 
few  :  so  long  as  he  possesses  a  spirited  horse,  a 
good  set  of  saddlery,  and  a  properly  obedient 
woman,  he  asks  no  more  of  fate.  Incidentally,  as 
he  is  not  fond  of  formalities  or  permanent  ties,  he 
does  not  usually  trouble  to  go  through  anv  legal 
form  of  marriage.  The  importation  of  natives  into 
the  New  Australia  Colony  was  the  most  fatal  poss- 
ible mistake;  for  the  British  boys  and  girls  quickly 
foregathered  with  the  natives,  learned  to  talk  the 
Guarani  language,  and,  in  the  absence  of  any  moral 
teaching  from  their  own  folk,  grew  to  accept  native 
ideals  as  their  own. 

A  speedy  result  of  the  bringing  of  this  new 
element  into  colony  life  was  the  fear  which  men  now 
entertained  of  leaving  their  houses  unprotected. 
The  theorists,  convinced  that  never  a  black  heart 
beat  beneath  a  dusky  skin,  at  first  pooh-poohed  the 
suggestion  that  there  might  be  any  danger  of 
robbery  or  other  acts  of  violence  by  the  natives,  but 
they  were  quickly  undeceived.  O'Donnell,  a 
married  man,  in  charge  of  the  store  at  Los  Amigos, 


DEPLORABLE  MORALS  151 

woke  up  one  morning  to  find  that  natives  had  cut 
through  the  thatched  roof  in  the  night,  and  had 
moved  the  more  valuable  portion  of  the  stock. 
This  was  only  the  first  of  many  such  troubles,  which 
might  have  been  avoided  but  for  a  too  optimistic 
view  of  dusky  human  nature. 

It  was  not  long  before  even  the  enthusiast 
admitted  that  a  mistake  had  been  committed,  for  the 
effect — upon  the  young  bachelors  in  particular — of 
the  introduction  of  a  large  body  of  Guaranis  into 
their  midst  could  not  fail  to  produce  the  most 
deplorable  effect  on  morals.  As  Mrs.  Mary  Jane 
Gilmore  wrote  in  the  Sydney  Daily  Telegraph  : 
"The  Paraguayans  ancf  the  New  Australians  live 
side  by  side,  equal  under  the  law,  and  equal  socially. 
The  Paraguayan  gives  a  dance  and  the  white  man 
attends  it.  The  white  man  gives  one  and  the  Para- 
guayan comes.  A  wedding  is  the  signal  for  an  all- 
round  drunk,  Paraguayan  and  Australian  drinking 
out  of  the  same  bottle.  Everyone  grows  his  own 
sugar  and  makes  his  own  rum.  So  far,  though 
there  are  half-caste  children,  there  have  been  no 
marriages*  with  the  Paraguayans." 

Things  had  indeed  reached  a  grievous  pass  at 
New  Australia,  and  to  make  things  worse  the 
citizens  of  that  "ideal  "  state  had  now  lost  faith  in 
their  quondam  principles.  Their  illusions  gone, 
they  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  sit  in  their  mud  huts, 
and  endure  their  manifold  miseries,  with  a  hopeless 
feeling  that  they  would  have  to  put  up  with  the  same 
manner  of  living  to  the  end  of  their  days. 

*  This  is  no  longer  the  case. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

THE  FOUNDING  OF  COSME  COLONY. 

The  reader  will  recollect  that  the  original  pilgrims 
from  Australia  soon  split  off  into  three  groups, 

(a)  The  eighty-five  seceders,  who  left  "  New 
Australia"  for  the  Gonzalez  Colony  in  December, 
1893,  and  were  eventually  repatriated,  as  related  in 
Chapter  X. 

(b)  The  fifty-seven  seceders  who  departed  from 
*'  New  Australia  "  with  William  Lane  in  the  spring 
of  1894,  ^s  stated  in  Chapter  XL 

(c)  Those  who  remained  at  "New  Australia" 
whose  lamentable  condition  has  just  been  dealt 
with. 

The  unhappy  story  of  group  A  has  already  been 
concluded.  The  members  of  group  B  were  left  (see 
page  1 17)  encamped  beside  a  stream  just  clear  of  the 
New  Australia  territory.  Abandoning  group  C  to 
their  miseries  for  the  time  being,  the  narrative  1  will 
now  return  to  the  personal  adventures  of  William 
Lane  and  those  who  seceded  with  him. 

To  the  amazement  of  those  who  remained,  William 
Lane's  party  marched  out  behind  their  leader,  with 
superb  confidence  in  him  and  in  the  future,  although 
the  funds  they  had  in  hand  amounted  to  less  than 
fifteen  shillings  per  head.  Their  high  spirits  and 
lofty  hopes  are  clearly  shown  in  the  following  letter 
which  one  of  the  party  sent  to  a  friend  in  Adelaide. 

"As  to  us  poor  exiles  who  are  going,"  wrote  Mr. 

152 


EXCELLENT  SPIRITS  153 

Hy,  S.  Taylor,  "  you  would  never  think  us  deserv- 
ing of  pity  could  you  see  us.  We  are  the  only 
happy  people  in  the  settlement;  and  we  are  happy 
(for  we  trust  one  another,  and  feel  this  time  that  we 
have  reason  for  our  trust),  and  we  love  and  trust  our 
leader ;  and  together  and  with  him  we  know  we  shall 
be  happy  anywhere.  Fifty  resolute  men  and  untold 
wealth  of  experience;  what  shall  we  not  accomplish 
therewith  ?  For  a  short  time  we  shall  have  rough 
living,  of  course,  but  what  of  that?  In  a  few 
months  we  shall  be  ready  to  welcome  the  weakest 
and  the  feeblest.  .  .  .  We  are  all  in  such  excellent 
spirits  at  the  prospect  before  us  that  many  of  the 
other  party  thoroughly  believe  that  Lane  has 
managed  to  steal  a  few  thousand  pounds  some- 
where; for  to  them,  poor  souls,  it  is  absolutely 
inconceivable  that  men  who  are  penniless  should  be 
happy." 

During  the  ensuing  two  months  the  party  had 
need  of  all  their  faith,  for  Lane's  application  for  a 
further  grant  was  not  well  received  in  Asuncion, 
where  the  authorities  began  to  grow  a  little  weary 
of  the  Australian  immigrants'  dissensions.  Finally 
a  grant  was  offered  in  the  wild  yerbales,  where_the 
mate,  or  Paraguayan  tea,  grows.  Hearing  that  the 
site  was  only  eighteen  miles  away  the  party  set  off 
at  once  to  inspect  it,  but  the  intervening  country 
was  of  such  a  description  that  the  hardiest  pioneer 
took  ten  days  to  traverse  that  short  distance.  "The 
inspection  showed  that  the  grant  was  utterly  unsuit- 
able, being  in  wild,  rugged  country,  with  a  sandy 
soil,  and  practically  no  communication  with  the 
markets.      Another  disadvantage  'was   that   it   was 


154     FOUNDING  OF  COSME  COLONY 

Indian  country.  In  the  nearer  distance  lay  part  of 
the  mountains  of  Central  Paraguay,  seamed, 
scarred,  and  riven  by  great  gorges,  and  inhabited 
only  by  wild  animals — the  jaguar,  the  puma,  the 
mborabi,  and  the  carpincho — to  say  nothing  of  the 
smaller  fry — -ocelots,  tiger-cats,  and  others."^' 

Desperately  disappointed,  William  Lane  hastened 
back  to  the  capital  to  beg  the  minister  to  grant  more 
suitable  land,  but  by  this  time  the  official's  patience 
was  quite  worn  out,  and  he  intimated  clearly  that  the 
party  must  take  or  leave  what  he  had  already  offered. 
Almost  in  despair,  Lane  began  to  think  of  migrating 
to  the  Argentine,  but  a  lucky  circumstance  provided 
an  alternative.  One  of  his  followers,  a  man  named 
Stevenson,  received  from  Scotland  a  legacy  of  ;{^i5o 
which  he  at  once  placed  at  Lane's  disposal.  In 
addition  it  appears  that  a  considerable  sum  of 
money  was  forwarded  from  New  South  Wales  by 
Australian  sympathisers.  With  his  resources  thus 
reinforced,  William  Lane  approached  a  private  land 
owner  and  negotiated  the  purchase  of  live  and  a  half 
leagues  of  good  land,  only  thirteen  miles  from  a 
railway  station,  in  the  fork  of  two  rivers— the  Pirapo 
and  the  Tebicuari.  Having  received  a  deposit  of 
;^ioo,  the  owner  agreed  to  accept  the  balance  of 
;^300  by  instalments  of  ^'loo  per  annum.  Feeling 
assured  of  his  ability  to  attract  to  his  new  settlement 
most  of  those  who  had  contemplated  going  to  New- 
Australia,  Lane  had  no  doubt  he  would  be  able  to 
raise  the  necessary  funds  to  complete  the  purchase, 
and  his  companions  shared  his  optimism. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  exaggerate  the  sufferings 

*  Mrs.  Gilmore,  in  the  "Sydney  Daily  Telegraph." 


COSMA   LANE  155 

of  the  little  band,  encamped  beside  a  swollen  river, 
without  a  roof  to  their  heads,  in  the  middle  of  the 
Paraguayan  rainy  season.  It  was  the  month  of 
July,  1894,  before  negotiations  were  concluded. 
Rain  fell  in  torrents  as  they  entered  into  possession 
of  their  new  land,  which  was  christened  Cosme 
Colony,  and  tramped  through  the  waist-high  grass 
in  search  of  a  suitable  site  to  pitch  two  tents  to  give 
the  women  shelter.  Yet  the  women  patiently 
endured  without  a  murmur,  and  the  two  little  babes 
that  were  born  in  tents,  in  the  middle  of  the  wilder- 
ness, were  hailed  with  rapture  as  the  forerunners  of 
the  new  and  better  generation.  The  first  child  born 
on  Cosme  territory  w^as  Cosma  Lane,  daughter  of 
William  Lane's  brother,  John.  Though  the  outlook 
was  not  very  bright,  as  yet,  the  fond  parents  believed 
that  Cosme  would  have  made  its  mark  in  the  great 
world  long  before  Cosma  grew  up. 

Yet  Cosme's  heritage  is  free,  each  child  is  born 
its  heir, 
And  Labour  lends  its  magic  power  that  dowry 
to  adorn. 
What  though  'tis  the  wilderness  !     Loves  knows 
it  fresh  and  fair. 
We'll  make  it  matchless  heritage  for  babies  yet 
unborn. 

For    them    the    clearing-iires    shall    wave    black 
banners  to  the  skies, 
Bearing  the  struggling  forest  biick  to  where  the 
rivers  flow. 


156     FOUNDING  OF  COSME  COLONY 

For  them  shall  wind  and  water  toil ;    for  them 
embankments  rise, 
For  them  shall  English  grasses  spring  where 
Cosme's  cattle  go.* 

Thus  one  of  them  wrote.  In  all  that  they  said 
and  did  the  Cosme  pioneers  were  acutely  anxious  to 
deserve  the  good  opinion  of  futurity.  The  impatient 
word,  the  weary  complaint,  were  hushed,  so  that 
future  Cosmans  might  say  with  truth  that  the  hard- 
ships which  their  forbears  endured  were  nobly 
borne.  While  this  spirit  reigned,  mere  physical 
sufferings  seemed  of  less  than  no  account.  "  It 
seemed  like  Heaven,"  after  the  mutual  distrust  and 
suspicion  of  New  Australia. 

It  must  have  been  a  source  of  satisfaction  to 
William  Lane  to  know  that  his  own  wife  and 
children  had  no  such  hardships  to  endure.  After 
the  first  secession  he  had  sent  them  back  to 
Australia  by  the  "  Royal  Tar,"  giving  Mrs.  Lane 
instructions  to  proceed  with  the  organisation  of  a 
party  of  single  women.  Thus  she  escaped  the 
miseries  which  fell  to  John  Lane's  wife  and  family. f 
Furthermore,  her  revelations  concerning  the  state  of 
affairs  at  New  Australia  hindered  many  from  going 
there,  although  they  were  hardly  calculated  to  assist 
in  recruiting  for  Cosme. 

Avoiding  the  errors  of  New  Australia,  the 
Cosmans  set  to  work  at  once  upon  the  essential  task 

*  "  Cosme  Monthly,"  August  1897. 

t  Mrs.  William  Lane  rejoined  her  husband  at  Cosme  as  soon  as 
possible,  of  course. 


W^  ■      'I 


Mrs.    John   Lane   and    Family. 
On  Llie  It'lL  i.^  (  osuiu  l.juie     llie  lii>t-lioru  C'osnie  cliild 


TO    FACE    P.    156. 


UNFAILING   CHEERFULNESS         157 

of  ensuring  next  season's  food  supply.  Even  the 
women  armed  themselves  with  machetes,  and  accom- 
panied the  men  into  the  forest,  to  aid  in  the  strenuous 
work  of  monte  clearing.  It  is  a  peculiar  character- 
istic of  Paraguay  that  crops  cannot  be  induced  to 
grow  upon  the  clear  grass  land;  the  earth  will  only 
show'  itself  bountiful  towards  those  who  clear  away 
tall  trees  and  matted  jungle  from  its  bosom.  Once 
some  rough  shelter  had  been  provided,  no  more  time 
was  wasted  in  building  operations;  from  sunrise 
until  they  flung  themselves  down,  dead-beat,  at 
nightfall,  the  Cosmans  fought  the  forest  with  fire, 
and  axe,  and  machete.  So  soon  as  any  patch  was 
cleared  of  the  denser  growth,  the  soil  was  hoed  over 
and  so^^■ed,  for  it  was  already  late  in  the  planting 
season,  and  ploughing  must  be  postponed  till  the 
stumps  and  roots  were  got  out,  next  year. 

During  the  first  six  months  the  Cosmans  allowed 
themselves  only  one  relaxation — the  compiling  of  a 
written  witness  of  their  unfailing  cheerfulness  for 
the  edification  of  future  Cosmans.  This  manuscript 
paper,  magnificently  titled  Cosme  Evening  Notes, 
began  to  be  published  at  once,  and  faithfully  reflects 
the  joys  and  sorrows  of  the  settlers.  After  a  day's 
severe  toil  in  the  monte,  or  the  long  pursuit  of  errant 
cattle  w'hich  had  strayed  into  the  bigestero  (swamp), 
the  weary  worker  with  a  gift  for  rhyme  would  con- 
sole himself  and  his  comrades  bv  a  cheerful  forecast 
of  the  days  when  Cosme  would  know  such  trials  no 
more.  The  following  doggerel  "  Reflections," 
scrawled  by  the  blistered  hands  of  one  of  the 
pioneers,  on  August  31st,  1894,  indicate  some  of 
their  trials  and  the  hopes  that  spurred  them  on  :  — 


158     FOUNDING  OF  COSME  COLONY 

The  big  estero  then  we'll  drain  and  bid  farewell 

to  bogs, 
Our  houses  we  will  build  of  stone  instead  of  grass 

and  logs, 
Mosquitoes  then  will  disappear,  the  hornets  too 

will  fly, 
But  the  bees  will  bring  us  honey  in  the  future  by 

and  bye. 

Our  horses,  sheep  and  cattle  too  will  then   the 

world  surprise, 
And  all  our  wants  will  be  supplied  just  as  those 

wants  arise, 
So  let  us  stick  together  boys;   though  now  we're 

but  three  score, 
The    future    soon    will    see    us    grow    to    many 

thousands  more. 

But  for  the  great  hopes  which  buoyed  them  up,  it 
is  probable  that  many  of  the  Cosmans  would  not 
have  survived  the  starvation  and  general  miseries  of 
that  first  six  months.  Every  week,  Lane's  followers 
grew  gaunter-faced  and  more  hollow-eyed.  "  In 
the  store  supplies  ran  down  day  by  day  till  women 
washed  without  soap,  cooked  without  fat,  and 
patched  the  outer  garments  with  the  inner.  Flour 
was  almost  non-existent.  Every  article  of  value 
that  anyone  possessed  sooner  or  later  found  its  way 
to  Asuncion  to  be  sold  and  the  proceeds  spent  in 
buying  kerosene,  beans,  salt,  or  maize.  When 
things  got  very  bad  a  tarpaulin  muster  brought  in 
even  wedding  rings.  Maize  at  last  practically  gave 
out.      Light   was  available  only  in   case  of   night 


SHOULD   WOiMEN   VOTE?  159 

nursing,  and  in  a  day  or  two  there  was  no  salt," 
wrote  Mrs.  Gilmore  in  the  Sydney  Daily  Telegraph. 
"  Meantime  the  long  hours  of  labour  went  on. 
Spring  passed  and  summer  came.  For  two  weeks 
the  colony  fed  wholly  on  unsalted  beans.  Then  the 
maize  came  in,  .  .  .  immediately  after  mandioca 
followed,  then  sweet  potatoes  and  beans." 

Never  was  a  harvest  more  eagerly  awaited ! 
Even  when  it  came,  however,  the  diet  was  almost 
entirely  vegetarian,  and  such  things  as  flour,  tea, 
butter,  etc.,  were,  of  course,  unobtainable.  All  the 
food  was  of  the  same  "starchy"  variety.  "  Being 
so  starchy  the  amount  of  actual  nourishment  is 
small,  while  the  varieties  of  indigestion  they  pro- 
duce are  severe  and  many.  There  is  practically  no 
fat.  A  housewife  in  my  time  thought  herself  lucky 
if  she  had  a  teaspoonful  of  fat  in  a  month  with  which 
merely  to  grease  the  pan.  And  any  man  who  got 
his  food  cooked  with  a  taste  of  fat  declared  he  felt 
stronger  all  day  for  it." 

In  spite  of  all  such  hardships.  New  Year's  Day, 
1895,  found  the  Cosmans  still  a  united  family, 
principally  perhaps,  because  all  were  so  busy  in 
warding  off  starvation  that  they  had  little  appetite 
for  meddling  in  politics.  Meanwhile  William  Lane 
profited  by  his  experience  at  New  Australia  to  draw 
up  a  different  constitution  for  Cosme  Colony. 
And  the  first  thing  he  decided  to  rule  out  was  the 
suffrage  of  married  women  I 

"  We  are  often  asked  by  outsiders  why  women  in 
Cosme  have  no  vote,"  wrote  an  educated  Cosme 
woman  to  an  Australian  sister  who  possessed  the 
vote.     "  Perhaps  they  think  that  we  should  have 


i6o     FOUNDING  OF  COSME  COLONY 

brought  all  the  political  and  social  evils  of  the  time 
with  us.  They  seem  to  forget  that  the  '  voting 
woman  '  is  only  another  form  of  the  highly  diseased 
state  of  city  life.  The  Cosme  woman  knows  that 
her  position  and  welfare  are  too  well  assured  to 
trouble  her  head  about  voting.  Her  governing 
powers  are  more  in  requisition  in  her  immediate 
surroundings— her  home.  .  .  .  May  the  question 
of  women  voters  never  arise  in  our  colony,  nor  the 
need  for  the  women  to  cope  with  the  grasping 
sordid  conditions  of  the  competitive  system  of  the 
outsider." 

Another  important  difference  between  the  consti- 
tution of  Cosme  and  the  original  New  Australian 
agreement  referred  to  the  arrangements  for  with- 
drawal. Anticipating  that  any  hardships  suffered 
by  expelled  and  seceding  members  would  form  an 
effective  deterrent  to  future  recruiting,  William  Lane 
provided  that  a  definite  share  of  the  common 
property  could  be  claimed  by  any  withdrawing 
members  (see  Regulation,  on  page  164).  The  follow- 
ing is  the  text  of  The  Cosme  Agreement,  as  it  stood 
in  April,  1897. 

The  Cosme  Agreement. 

Villages:  Cosme  shall  be  divided  into  villages; 
each  village  having  its  own  local  authority,  all 
villages  being  united  under  a  central  authority. 

Each  village  shall  elect  three  (3)  committeemen 
yearly  for  a  term  of  three  (3)  years ;  each  village 
committee  elect  one  (i)  village  executive  officer 
yearly  for  a  term  of  three  (3)  years ;   village  execu- 


COSME    AGREEMENT  i6i 

tive  to  retire  if  they  lose  seat  on  committee;  each 
village  elect  a  village  chairman  for  a  term  of  three 
(3)  years,  village  chairman  to  have  previously 
served  as  executive  officer ;  village  chairman  to  be 
subject  to  suspension  by  a  two-thirds  majority  of 
village  committee. 

Central  Authority  :  The  central  authority  shall  be 
composed  of  a  general  chairman  elected  by  general 
vote  for  a  term  of  five  (5)  years,  and  a  board  con- 
sisting of  all  village  chairmen  and  of  one  (i) 
delegate-committeeman  from  each  village  committee. 
The  central  authority  shall  appoint  one  (i)  general 
executive  officer  yearly  for  a  term  of  three  (3)  years, 
general  executive  officers  to  retire  if  they  lose  seat 
onboard.  The  general  chairman  to  have  previously 
served  on  general  executive,  and  to  be  subject  to 
suspension  by  a  two-thirds  majority  of  the  board. 

Voter:  The  householder  in  good  standing  to  be 
the  voter  in  all  village  and  general  elections. 
Householders  to  be  over  twenty-one  (21)  years  of 
age,  and  one  (i)  year's  membership. 

Functions  :  The  functions  of  the  central  authority 
shall  be  the  maintaining  of  Cosme  principles,  the 
holding  of  Cosme  land,  the  holding  and  handling  of 
the  general  funds,  the  establishing  of  new  villages, 
the  organising  of  co-operative  action,  and  any  other 
general  functions  which  may  by  expressed  consent 
or  custom  be  assigned  to  it  by  the  community  at 
large. 

The  functions  of  the  village  authority  shall  be  the 
maintaining  of  Cosme  principles,  the  organising 
and  directing  of  all  village  industry,  the  holding  of 
all    village  property,    the   regulating  of  all  village 


i62     FOUNDING  OF  COSME  COLONY 

matters,  the  assisting  of  the  central  authority,  and 
any  other  functions  which  may  by  expressed  consent 
or  custom  be  assigned  to  it  by  the  householders  of 
its  village;  provided  always  that  no  function  of  the 
central  authority,  expressly  or  customarily  approved 
by  the  community  at  large,  shall  be  interfered  with 
by  any  village  authority. 

All  land  shall  be  held  by  the  central  authority  for 
occupation  by  Cosme  villages.  Improvements  in- 
separable from  the  land  shall  not  be  valuated  for 
sharing  purposes  by  any  village,  but  in  place 
thereof  each  village  shall  set  from  time  to  time,  with 
the  consent  of  the  central  authority,  compensation 
to  withdrawers  based  upon  the  working  value  of 
improvements.  The  control  of  natural  grass, 
natural  timber,  natural  water,  and  mines  of  every 
kind,  shall  always  remain  with  the  central  authority. 

General  Funds :  The  general  fund  shall  consist 
of  a  loan  fund,  an  emergency  fund,  and  an  enlarge- 
ment fund. 

Each  village  authority  shall  pay  into  the  general 
funds  the  value  of  one  (i)  day's  work  per  week  of 
the  full  working  strength  of  the  village.  The 
central  authority  shall  place  this  payment  as 
follows  :  three  fifths  to  the  loan  fund,  one-fifth  to 
the  emergency  fund,  one-fifth  to  the  enlargement 
fund.  All  other  contributions,  payments  and 
donations,  not  otherwise  specified  shall  be  similarly 
placed.  Contributions  by  members  new  or  old, 
shall  be  returnable  upon  their  withdrawing  from 
membership  less  a  yearly  deduction  of  one-tenth  of 
the  original  amount,  such  refund  to  be  a  first  charge 
upon  the  general  funds.     The  general  funds  shall 


CONDITIONS  OF  MEMBERSHIP      163 

not  be  otherwise  liable  to  any  claims  by  any  with- 
drawing member. 

Membership :  Membership  must  be  either  by 
birthright  or  by  admittance.  No  charge  shall  be 
made  for  membership,  but  no  member  shall  have 
any  interests  outside  of  Cosme.  All  contributions 
to  capital  by  incoming  or  other  members  to  be 
placed  in  the  general  funds. 

The  children  of  members  shall  be  registered  as 
inborn  members  and  shall  be  entitled  to  mainten- 
ance and  education,  while  minors,  and  to  all 
membership  rights  when  of  due  age,  provided  their 
parents  continue  in  membership.  The  Cosme 
marriage  age  shall  be  after  twenty-one  for  men  and 
after  eighteen  for  women.  First  cousins  shall  be 
regarded  as  within  the  forbidden  degrees. 

All  admittance  shall  be  through  the  central 
authority  but  any  village  authority  may  refuse  entry 
to  its  village.  There  can  be  no  Cosme  membership 
without  village  membership,  and  no  residence  with- 
out membership. 

Dividend:  No  dividend  shall  be  made  by  any 
village  until  maintenance,  education,  sanitation, 
general  fund  payments,  and  other  necessary 
expenses  have  been  provided  for.  An^^  dividend 
made  shall  be  allotted  to  all  adults  equally,  by 
crediting  each  householder  w'ith  an  amount  propor- 
tionate to  the  number  of  adults  in  his  family.  For 
the  equalisation  of  the  sexes  in  the  village  a  levy  of 
one-third  shall  be  struck  upon  all  dividends,  which 
levy  shall  be  suspended  whenever  the  necessity 
ceases;  this  levy  shall  be  paid  into  the  enlargement 
fund. 


i64     FOUNDING  OF  COSME  COLONY 

Withdrmving :  Any  householder  withdrawing 
from  Cosme  shall  be  entitled  to  claim  from  his 
village  a  one-tenth  withdrawal  share  for  every  year 
he  has  been  a  householder,  up  to  ten  (lo)  years;  or, 
if  inborn,  shall  be  entitled  to  claim  a  one-fifth  with- 
drawal share  for  every  year  over  the  age  of  twenty 
(20)  up  to  live  (5)  years,  provided  that  no  inborn 
member  withdrawing  shall  take  more  than  a  one- 
tenth  share  for  each  year  he  has  been  in  Cosme. 
No  withdrawing  householder  to  claim  more  than  a 
full  share.  The  withdrawal  share  to  be  as  arranged 
from  time  to  time,  at  general  village  meeting  with 
the  consent  of  the  central  authority. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

COSME   RITES  AND  CEREMONIES. 

When  the  first  arduous  rush  of  settlement  work  was 
over  there  followed  a  reaction  at  Cosme.  It  would 
be  a  very  bad  advertisement  of  the  place,  among 
"outsiders,"  as  the  rest  of  the  world  was  desicrnated, 
if  the  Cosme  community  required  sixteen  hours  toil 
daily  of  its  members.  At  the  earliest  possible 
moment,  therefore,  the  eight  hour  day  was  insti- 
tuted, for  men  and  single  women,  with  the  additional 
proviso  that  nobody  should  be  required  to  work  for 
the  community  more  than  four  and  a  half  days  per 
week.  There  was  nothing  to  prevent  any  citizen 
from  doing  additional  work  in  "  private  time,"  but 
it  was  expressly  laid  down  that  none  should  be 
done  "  for  profit  "  except  by  order  of,  and  for  the 
benefit  of,  the  community. 

It  might  be  supposed  that  the  citizens  would  make 
use  of  their  ample  leisure  to  exchange  useful  work 
between  themselves ;  those,  for  instance,  who  were 
carpenters  by  trade  could  make  the  homes  of  their 
neighbours  more  comfortable,  in  return  for  some 
equal  benefit.  There  was  very  little  voluntary 
interchange  of  service,  however.  Strange  to  say, 
many  citizens  were  so  jealous  of  doing  more  work 
for  the  community  than  their  neighbours,  that  they 
forbore  to  improve  their  own  residences  unless  told 
off  for  that  purpose,  as  part  of  the  building  squad, 
L  ,65 


i66    COSME  RITES  AND  CEREMONIES 

during  the  ordinary  working  hours.  As  the  com- 
munity required  to  devote  the  whole  of  the  working 
day  to  more  productive  labour,  the  rude  and  squalid 
mud  huts,  originally  put  up,  long  continued  to  serve 
as  homes  for  all  save  a  favoured  few.  In  fact  it  was 
six  and  a  half  years  after  the  first  settlement  at 
Cosme  before  the  community  so  much  as  considered 
the  question  of  providing  each  family  with  a  toler- 
ably comfortable  home.     (See  Appendix  E.) 

No  pen  picture  of  Cosme  could  give  a  clearer  idea 
of  its  life  than  the  following  extract  from  a  letter, 
written  home  to  his  friends  by  an  enthusiastic  Scots 
recruit,  when  the  settlement  had  been  just  over  three 
years  in  existence  : 

"  You  can  imagine  a  little  village  with  rude  huts 
for  houses  scattered  here  and  there,  with  no  pretence 
to  streets,  the  huts  thatched  with  grass,  with  mud 
floors,  and  shutters  for  windows,  with  no  showy 
furniture  nor  modern  household  conveniences.  You 
can  imagine  a  long  building  somewhat  like  a  hay 
shed  in  the  old  country,  with  slab  sides  and  boasting 
a  W'Ooden  floor — this  is  the  single  men's  dining 
room,  and  where  all  our  meetings  and  socials  are 
held.  You  can  imagine  at  dusk  a  gruff  voice  roar- 
ing out  Evening  Notes,  and  you  can  see  men, 
women,  and  children  strolling  from  their  huts  to 
hear  Notes  read  at  the  dining  room.  Notes  con- 
tains the  news  of  the  day,  the  work  going  on, 
interesting  letters  from  friends  and  well-wishers, 
clippings  from  the  latest  papers,  etc.,  etc. 

"  Then  after  Notes,  you  can  imagine  little  groups 
of  men  discussing  the  news,  or  the  work  doing  or  to 
be  done ;   and  others  playing  chess  or  draughts  or 


WHAT    GOD?  167 

cards,  until  it  is  time  to  stroll  home  again  to  our 
own  firesides.  At  half-past  five  in  the  morning  we 
are  disturbed  from  a  peaceful  slumber  by  the  deep 
sound  of  a  horn,  this  reminds  us  that  we  might  as 
well  be  getting  up,  at  six  o'clock  another  horn  tells 
us  our  breakfast  is  ready,  and  at  half-past  six 
another  horn  reminds  us  that  there  is  some  work  to 
do,  and  each  one  then  goes  to  his  day's  toil.  At 
half-past  eleven  the  dinner  horn  goes,  and  the  work 
horn  again  at  half-past  twelve,  whence  we  work  on 
till  four  o'clock,  when  we  finish  for  the  day." 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  same  people  w^ho 
argued  that  it  was  slavery  under  "Capitalism"  for 
the  factory  hand  to  commence  and  finish  work  to 
the  sound  of  a  hooter,  submitted  tamely  enough 
under  "Socialism"  to  rising,  breakfasting,  working 
and  even  pleasure-making  to  the  sound  of  a  horn. 
But  then,  as  the  writer  of  the  above  letter  remarked, 
"the  theoretical  Socialist  has  very  little  idea  what  it 
means  to  go  out  into  the  wilderness  to  put  his  pet 
theories  into  practice.  There  are  a  thousand  little 
details  he  has  never  thought  of.  He  finds  that 
human  nature  doesn't  change  with  new' conditions." 
William  Lane  had  made  that  discovery  too. 
Whether  consciously  or  not,  and  in  spite  of  consti- 
tutional safeguards,  he  managed  his  docile  flock  in 
almost  precisely  the  same  fashion  as  the  Jesuits 
controlled  their  Indian  communities  in  Paraguay, 
Although  the  Deity,  as  Christians  know  Him,  had 
no  place  in  the  Cosme  scheme,  Lane  realised  the 
necessity  of  a  theocratic  domination  if  he  would  carry 
his  scheme  through.  But  what  god  should  he  set 
up;    having  dethroned  Christ  from  His  place? 


i68    COSME  RITES  AND  CEREMONIES 

"  No  fault  of  his  is  it,  if,  of  this  strange  and 
tearful  teacher,  heathens  have  contrived  a  strange 
and  tearful  god,"  William  Lane  preached  to  his 
flock  at  Christmas,  1898,  "  nor  if  his  simple  story 
has  been  overlaid  by  juggled  legends,  and  twisted 
into  pretentious  framework  for  blasphemous  oratory. 
It  is  clear  that  Jesus,  like  Tolstoi  to-day,  never 
understood  the  healthy  physical  life,  and  so 
expounded  an  unbalanced  philosophy." 

Lane  of  course  did  understand  the  healthy 
physical  life  and  -was  therefore  qualified  to  expound 
a  properly  balanced  creed  !  From  his  brief  experi- 
ence at  New  Australia  Lane  discovered  that 
under  pure  materialism,  with  no  lofty  ideal  for  a 
guiding  motive,  his  people  could  not  fail  to  degene- 
rate. Furthermore,  he  discerned  the  immense 
assistance  which  statecraft  derives  from  religion, 
since  the  latter  encourages  to  good  conduct  from 
other  motives  than  mere  fear  of  the  policeman.  He 
therefore  decided  that  Cosme  must  have  a  religion 
after  all. 

Just  as  he  had  emulated  the  majestic  figure  of 
Moses  in  leading  the  New  Australians  forth  from 
Australia,  so  Lane  copied  him  again  in  producing 
(though  with  no  better  inspiration  than  his  own 
ingenious  brain)  a  complete  system  of  religion  for 
his  flock  to  follow.  From  the  time  he  took  that 
resolution  the  Cosmans  could  not  boast  that  they 
escaped  the  preacher  in  their  "ideal"  community. 
Lane  was  continuously  "at  it,"  preaching  the  Law 
of  Communism  under  which,  like  the  Israelites 
under  the  Mosaic  Law,  Cosmans  got  short  shrift 
for  heresy. 


WILLIAM    LANE'S   FAITH  169 

"  I  will  state  to-night,  as  clearly  and  as  shortly 
as  I  can,  the  way  of  thinking  which  makes  me  a 
Communist,"  said  Lane  in  one  of  his  Sunday 
evening  sermons.  "  When  I  say  Communist,  I  do 
not  mean  merely  one  who  accepts  theoretically 
certain  theoretical  or  even  ethical  conceptions  of 
Society,  but  one  who  holds  that  the  practice  of 
Communism  is  absolutely  necessary  to  make  life 
natural,  wholesome  and  happy,  and  that  it  is  the 
bounden  duty  of  man,  even  by  himself,  to  try 
ceaselessly  and  in  spite  of  his  own  shortcomings  to 
put  Communism  into  loving  practice  in  his  life. 

"  With  me  that  belief  springs  from  an  absolute 
and  unshakeable  faith  in  what  we  commonly  call 
'  God.'  And  when  I  say  God  I  mean  neither  the 
idol  built  of  wood  or  stone  by  the  crude  hands  of 
savages,  nor  the  idol  built  of  words  and  phrases  by 
the  equal  heathenism  of  higher  races.  I  mean  by 
God  the  sense  of  the  oneness,  the  lovingness,  the 
completeness  of  that  inconceivable  power  which, 
working  through  matter  called  us,  and  all  the 
wondrous  universe  we  see,  into  being.  That  power 
I  know  and  feel  is  supreme  beyond  all  conceiving. 
Nothing  is  beyond  its  control.  ...  In  all  the 
universe,  in  the  whole  earth,  there  is  none  but  God 
who  rules — One  God  and  no  other.  .   .  . 

"  But  one  may  ask,  what  has  Communism  to  do 
with  belief  in  God.  This;  that  to  me  Communism 
is  part  of  God's  law.  ...  He  who  with  all  his 
heart  and  soul  endeavours  to  be  Communist  of  him- 
self, freely,  and  to  mould  upon  Communistic  lines 
the  social  organisation  without  which  man  cannot 
live  on    earth,   he   is,   in   so   far   serving   God   and 


170    COSiME  RITES  AND  CEREMONIES 

obeying  God's  law.  And  he  who  does  other  is 
sinning,  is  wilfully  and  deliberately  setting  his  own 
petty  desires  against  God.  .  .  .  Communism,  the 
brotherliness  in  society  of  man,  is  to  me  a  part  of 
God's  law.  Death  comes  to  those  who  deny  it. 
Misery  and  sorrow  fill  the  world  because  we  will 
not  obey.   .  .  . 

"All  this  Law  we  do  not  know  as  yet,  and  much 
must  Man  suffer  ere  he  learns  it  all  and  understands 
what  indeed  he  is.  But  parts  of  this  Law  we  know 
and  know  clearly.  .  .  .  And  Communism  is  a 
part  of  the  known  and  certain  Law  of  things. 
Never  great  teacher  taught  these  ages  back  who  did 
not  teach  so.  .  .  .  As  I  hold  and  believe;  God 
laws  it." 

The  obvious  advantage  of  such  a  system  of 
theology  in  a  Communistic  State  is,  that  any  citizen 
who  dares  to  criticise  Communism  brands  himself 
at  once  as  the  enemy  of  "  God  "  and  man,  and  it  is 
nothing  less  than  the  bounden  duty  of  the  authori- 
ties to  eject  him.  By  elevating  his  pet  theories  from 
a  mere  political  creed  to  a  revealed  religion,  with 
himself  as  executive  High  Priest,  to  criticise  whose 
decisions  would  be  little  less  than  blasphemy  in  the 
eyes  of  his  most  faithful  adherents,  William  Lane 
set  up  a  powerful  barrier  to  the  disruption  of  his 
new  community  by  internal  factions.  In  order  to 
facilitate  the  ejectment  of  intractable  citizens  from 
Cosme,  Lane  inaugurated  a  system  of  "trial 
membership,"  whereby  no  recruit  had  a  vote  until 
he  had  spent  a  year  on  the  settlement  and  had 
proved  his  suitability.  Any  prospective  citizens 
who  wished  or  were  ordered  to  withdraw  before  the 


SERIOUS    AniS  171 

expiration  of  the  probationary  period  were  allowed 
to  leave  with  their  possessions  intact. 

To  impress  upon  newcomers  the  serious  nature 
and  aims  of  "  Cosmeism  "  a  ceremony  of  initiation 
was  also  instituted.  Prior  to  the  public  reading 
and  signing  of  the  membership  certificate,  and  of 
the  Mutual  Agreement,  by  colony  officials,  new 
members  and  witnesses,  the  chairman  read  the 
following  exhortation  to  the  assembled  citizens  : 

"  For  the  well-being  and  healthy  growth  of 
Cosme  it  is  needful  that  we  be  joined  by  people  of 
our  own  race  who  are  one  w-ith  us  in  thought  and 
purpose. 

"  Only  by  increase  of  membership  can  Cosme 
realise  the  object  of  its  foundation,  make  complete 
and  self-sustained  its  industrial  development,  make 
broad  and  deep  its  social  life,  and  prove  to  the  world 
that  brotherly  living  is  both  possible  and  practic- 
able to  earnest  people. 

"  The  taking  and  giving  of  the  pledge  of  fellow- 
ship is  no  light  matter.  The  endeavour  to  live  up 
to  the  spirit  of  that  fellowship,  demands,  from  each 
one  of  us,  deep  resolve,  constant  thought,  persistent 
effort  and  unfailing  patience.  The  human  failings 
and  weaknesses  inherent  in  all  of  us  must  ever 
hinder  perfect  living.  But  knowing  these  weak- 
nesses, we  can  if  we  will,  so  guard  against  them  that 
in  spite  of  stumbling  we  may  keep  moving  forward. 

"  Above  all  things  it  is  needful  that  we  cherish 
in  our  hearts  the  spirit  of  brotherhood  which  is  the 
very  soul  of  fellowship,  that  it  may  influence  us  in 
all  our  doings,  keeping  us  from  selfishness  and 
strife,  and  leading  us  ever  in  the  path  of  peace  and 


172    COSME  RITES  AND  CEREMONIES 

goodwill  towards  that  fellowship  of  heart  and  mind 
W'hich  passeth  understanding." 

The  reference  to  social  life  serves  as  a  reminder 
that  this  was  the  feature  above  all  others  on  which 
William  Lane  most  strongly  insisted.  Every 
evening  at  the  sound  of  a  horn,  the  people  assem- 
bled to  hear  the  reading  of  Cosme  Evening  Notes, 
each  Saturday  night  the  same  folk  met  for  a 
"Social"  and  danced  together  under  the  benevolent 
eye  of  their  master,  with  at  least  affected  enjoyment, 
although  they  had  worked  side  by  side  all  the  week 
and  had  danced  the  same  dances  together  some 
scores  of  times  before.  On  Sunday  nights  there 
was  a  further  meeting  in  the  "Social  Hall,"  where 
an  oration  by  William  Lane,  or  reading  from 
standard  works  on  Socialism  took  the  place  of  any 
orthodox  form  of  religious  service.  The  following 
extract  from  the  Cosme  Monthly,  for  June,  1897 
(when  the  resident  population  was  57  men,  22 
women,  and  35  children),  conveys  a  clear  idea  of 
the  settlement's  social   life  : 

"May  i2th,  Cosme's  'Foundation  Day,'  was  a 
public  holiday.  There  was  a  communal  dinner  at 
mid-day,  very  successful  sports  in  the  cricket  oval 
in  the  afternoon,  and  theatricals  and  dancing  at 
night.  The  piece  staged  was  a  farce  entitled, 
'  Blarney.'  On  the  29th,  was  a  special  wedding 
social  on  the  occasion  of  the  second  Cosme 
marriage.  The  ordinary  Saturday  socials  were 
carried  on  as  usual,  as  also  were  the  Sunday  night 
meetings.  Among  readings  given  at  the  latter 
were  :  Hall  Caine's  '  Christian  '  (three  chapters), 
Nunquam's  'New  Religion,'  Clodd  on  'Buddhism,' 


THE   MARRIAGE   SERVICE  173 

two  sketches  by  Price  Warung,  various  short 
articles  and  some  letters  from  absent  members. 
Songs  and  glees  were  also  sung.  The  Spanish  and 
singing  classes  are  going  on  steadily,  many  of  the 
new  members  having  joined,  there  now  being  19  in 
the  former,  and  26  in  the  latter.  The  musical 
instruments  have  been  increased  by  two  violins,  a 
banjo,  and  a  harmonium.  This  last  instrument  was 
brought  in  by  Arthur  Lewis  and  is  at  the  service  of 
the  social  union.  Sports  :  There  has  been  a  little 
fishing  indulged  in  with  moderate  success.  The 
hunters  occasionally  brought  home  small  ^^ame.  A 
little  cricket  was  played." 

The  wedding  referred  to  above  was  that  of  Mrs. 
Gilmore  (whose  accounts  of  life  at  Cosme  have 
several  times  been  quoted).  As  has  been  noted 
already,  William  Lane  differed  from  many  Socialists 
on  the  marriage  question.  At  Cosme  couples  were 
not  merely  united  by  the  civil  contract;  there  was 
also  a  religious  service.  As  was  only  to  be  expected 
the  latter  differed  as  much  from  any  hitherto  exist- 
ing service  as  the  Cosme  religion  differed  from 
other  creeds.  It  is  probable  that  never  before  in 
history  did  so  small  a  community  (its  adult  popu- 
lation never  totalled  one  hundred)  trouble  to 
provide  itself  with  an  original  marriage  ceremony. 
The  following  was  the  exact  text  of  the  : 

Cosme  Marriage  Service. 

The  bride  and  bridegroom  beingpresent  with  their 
parents  or  other  witnesses  in  open  meeting,  the 
official  representative  of  Cosme  says  : 

"  For  the  lasting  life  of  any  people,  it  is  needful 


174    COSME  RITES  AND  CEREMONIES 

above  all  things,  that  its  men  and  women  be  honest. 
For  although  there  may  sometimes  seem  to  be 
welfare  without  honest  living,  yet  sooner  or  later, 
in  one  way  or  another,  evil  doing  utterly  destroys. 

"  Marriage  therefore,  is  holy  if  we  take  it  rightly, 
being  the  public  declaration  by  man  and  woman  of 
their  going  to  live  together  as  man  and  wife,  in 
accordance  with  the  laws  of  God ;  and  of  their 
acknowledgment  on  behalf  of  themselves  and  of 
the  children  who  may  be  born  to  them,  of  the  duties 
which  they  and  theirs  owe  to  the  people. 

"  Wherefore,  this  man  and  this  woman,  members 
of  Cosme,  have  come  before  us  all  to  make  that 
public  declaration  which  is  right  and  fitting,  and  to 
take  again  upon  themselves  those  duties  and  obliga- 
tions which  give  to  them  and  to  those  who  may  be 
born  to  them,  rightful  claim  to  the  standing  Cosme 
pledges  to  all  those  who  abide  by  its  principles,  and 
to  enter  into  that  civil  contract  of  marriage,  which, 
without  taking  from  the  holiness  of  the  marriage 
state,  makes  their  marriage  according  to  the  law  of 
Paraguay. 

"  But  first,  as  has  been  the  custom  with  our 
people,  if  there  are  any  here  who  know  of  good 
cause  why  the  marriage  should  not  take  place,  I 
call  upon  them  to  declare  it  now,  or  for  ever  after  to 
hold  their  peace." 

The  bride  and  bridegroom  then  stand  up  in  front 
of  the  meeting  and  the  representative  of  Cosme  then 
says  to  them  : 

"  If  any  take  upon  themselves  the  duties  and 
obligations  of  marriage,  knowing  that  for  any  cause 
whatsoever  they  are  unable  to  do  so  honestly  and 


A   SOLEMN    PLEDGE  175 

truly,  their  pledge  is  a  mocking  to  all,  a  shamming 
of  one  who  trusts  them,  and  a  breaking  of  the  laws 
of  God.  Wherefore,  so  that  you  may  shun  in  time 
the  suffering  that  fails  not  to  follow  sin,  I  ask  you 
each,  severally,  if  you  know  of  any  cause  why  you 
should  not  marry  ? 

"It  is  moreover  a  sinful  thing  for  any  man  or 
woman  to  enter  into  marriage  save  for  love  only, 
since  we  are  not  as  brute  beasts,  but  are  men  and 
women  with  human  feelings,  which  we  must  keep 
pure  and  undefiled,  lest  we  debase  and  degrade  our- 
selves. In  Cosme  there  can  be  no  fear  of  want,  nor 
greed  of  gain,  nor  any  unnatural  pressure  to  excuse 
the  weakest  for  so  sinning.  Wherefore,  I  ask  you 
each,  severally,  if  it  is  of  your  free  wall  and  choice 
that  vou  come  to  pledge  yourselves  in  marriage, 
knowing  that  ihe  pledge  is  for  life  and  that  without 
true  love,  marriage  is  sinful,  bringing  a  curse  and 
not  a  blessing  ? 

"In  the  outer  world  many  dare  not  marry,  because 
of  the  want  and  fear  which  have  been  born  oi  men 
and  women  caring  for  themselves  alone,  and  having 
no  thought  for  others.  Therefore  because  Cosme 
enables  you  to  marry  honestly,  and  without  fear, 
I  call  upon  you  to  pledge  continued  loyalty  to 
Cosme,  in  prosperity  or  in  adversity,  and  that  you 
will  teach  its  principles  in  your  family  and  will 
always  maintain  them,  and  that  you  will  work  for 
and  cherish  your  fellow-members  and  their  families, 
as  they  work  for  and  cherish  you  and  yours." 

The  man  and  the  woman  repeat  after  the  repre- 
sentative : 

"  We  solemnly  pledge  ourselves  to  be  loyal   to 


176    COSME  RITES  AND  CEREMONIES 

Cosme  in  prosperity  or  in  adversity,  and  that  we 
will  teach  its  principles  in  our  family  and  will 
always  maintain  them,  and  will  work  for  and 
cherish  our  fellow-members  and  their  families,  as 
they  work  for  and  cherish  us  and  ours." 

The  representative  then  says  to  the  meeting  : 

"You  have  witnessed  the  pledges  given  by — 

and  to   Cosme,   and  to  you  as  part  of  its 

people.  I  call  upon  you  to  join,  by  standing,  in 
the  pledge  of  Cosme,  to  be  repeated  to  them  in 
return. 

"To  you and at  this  your  marriage, 

I  repeat  in  the  name  of  Cosme  the  pledge  already 
given  to  you  by  your  membership.  '  To  you  for 
your  life,  in  your  sickness  as  in  your  health,  in  our 
prosperity  as  in  our  adversity,  due  place  among  our 
people,  ever  to  try  to  do  to  you  and  yours  as  we 
would  have  you  to  do  to  us  and  ours.  To  your 
children  all  love  and  care  and  equal  maintenance, 
during  your  life,  or  after  your  death ;  and  upon 
their  coming  of  age,  full  and  free  membership, 
provided  only  that  you  keep  truly  the  pledge  you 
have  given,  and  that  your  children  are  likewise 
loyal.'  " 

The  representative  then  asks  of  the  bride  and 
bridegroom  respectively  : 

"  Will  you  take  this  man  (or  woman)  to  be  your 
husband  (or  wife)  in  all  honesty  and  truth,  pledging 
yourself  before  God,  whom  none  can  deceive,  to  be 
true  wife  (or  husband)  to  him  (or  her)  as  long  as 
you  both  live  ?" 

The  bridegroom  then  repeats  after  the  represen- 
tative : 


"ENTERED    IN    THE    BOOKS"       177 

"  I  take to  be  my  wife  and  have  my  name, 

and  do  pledge  myself  before  God,  to  be  true  husband 
to  her  as  long  as  she  lives,  and  I  give  her  this  ring 
as  token  of  our  pledge." 

The  bride  repeats  : 

"  I  take to  be  my  husband  and  to  have  his 

name,  and  do  pledge  myself  before  God,  to  be  true 
wife  to  him  as  long  as  he  lives,  and  I  take  this  ring 
as  token  of  our  pledge." 

The  representative  then  says  : 

"  I  declare  this  woman  married  to  this  man,  and 
that  she  is  his  wife  before  all  from  this  time 
forward." 

The  representative  says  to  the  meeting,  in  con- 
clusion : 

"  In    the    name    of    Cosme    I    accept    as 

married,  and  to  be  so  entered  in  the  books.  I  call 
upon  every  man  here  to  show  by  rising,  that  he 
accepts  this  woman  as  a  married  sister,  to  be  held 
as  such  at  all  times  while  her  husband  lives,  and  to 
be  guarded  as  one  of  his  own  kin.  And  I  call  upon 
every  woman  to  show,  by  rising,  that  she  accepts 
this  man  as  a  married  brother,  to  be  held  so  at  all 
times  while  his  wife  lives.  And  I  call  upon  all,  by 
raising  our  hands,  to  pledge  ourselves  not  to  wrong 
them,  nor  let  wrong  be  done  to  them,  and  to  join  in 
casting  out  any  evil-doer  so  that  our  marriages  be 
kept  unbroken,  and  so  that  our  people  may  have 
God's  blessing,  and  may  live  and  not  die." 

Here  immediately  follows  the  Civil  Contract  of 
Marriage. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

RECRUITING    FOR   COSME. 

In  building  the  foundations  of  his  ideal  State 
William  Lane  was  faced  with  a  number  of  pressing 
problems,  of  which  perhaps  the  chief  was  the  need 
for  securing  against  loss  of  the  land  on  which  it  was 
established.  During  the  first  two  years  the  neces- 
sity for  scraping  together  the  annual  instalments 
was  a  cruel  anxiety,  and  cast  a  shadow  over  the 
lives  of  the  responsible  officials.  But,  after  giving 
the  Cosmans  two  years  in  which  to  prove  their 
mettle,  the  authorities  in  Asuncion  came  to  the 
rescue  in  their  usual  generous  fashion.  On  June 
25th,  1896,  the  Government  paid  the  balance  of  the 
purchase  money  (^'200)  still  owing  to  the  vendor, 
reimbursed  to  the  Cosmans  the  money  they  had 
already  paid  (;^20o),  and  made  them  a  free  gift  of 
the  territory  and  of  another  league  besides.  The 
only  condition  attached  to  the  grant  was  that 
seventy-two  families  must  be  settled  upon  the  land 
within  two  years. 

This  repayment  of  a  comparatively  large  sum  of 
money  was  a  welcome  boon,  at  a  time  when  the 
Cosmans  were  reduced  to  sore  extremities  for  want 
of  various  articles  they  were  themselves  unable  to 
produce.  It  should  be  explained  that  stores  of  all 
kinds  were  distributed  to  the  settlers  through  a 
system  of  credits.  Each  individual  was  furnished 
with  a  card,  on  one  side  of  which  (a)  or  "  inside  " 

178 


CREDIT   SYSTEM  179 

credits  were  recorded,  and  on  the  other  side  (b)  or 
"outside"  credits.  "Inside"  credits  referred  to 
food,  and  articles  of  all  kinds  produced  upon  the 
settlement,  "outside"  to  imported  articles,  such  as 
clothing,  soda,  salt,  soap,  mate  (Paraguayan  tea), 
etc.  Supplies  of  all  kinds,  equitably  priced,  were 
issued  by  the  store,  equal  credits  being  allowed  to 
all  adults,  while  children  enjoyed  a  quarter  credit 
for  each  five  years  of  age.  According  to  the 
original  scheme  "inside"  credit  balances  were 
extinguished  every  month,  while  "outside"  were 
cumulative;  but  the  consequence  of  the  latter 
regulation  was  that,  in  course  of  time,  some  frugal 
members  were  owed  considerably  greater  supplies 
of  "outside"  stores  than  the  community  could  pay 
them.  In  fact,  had  it  not  been  for  the  voluntary 
cancellation  of  their  credits  by  some  members  the 
store  would  have  become  bankrupt.  The  immediate 
result  of  the  Government's  generosity  was  to 
restore  Cosme's  purchasing  power,  so  that  the  com- 
plicated (a)  and  (b)  system  was  replaced  by  an 
amalgamated  credit,  which  gave  much  greater  satis- 
faction (until,  two  years  later,  want  of  funds  com- 
pelled a  return  to  the  old  "  inside  "  and  "  outside  " 
distinction). 

Two  other  difficulties  confronting  William  Lane 
proved  less  easy  of  solution;  these  were  (i)  the 
immediate  necessity  of  introducing  a  great  many 
more  immigrants,  in  order  to  comply  with  the 
Government's  condition  that  seventy-two  families 
should  be  settled  within  two  years,  and  (2)  the  fact 
that  there  was  a  serious  disproportion  between  the 
number  of  adult  men  and  women  at  Cosme.    As  the 


i8o  RECRUITING  FOR   COSME 

former  outnumbered  the  latter  by  nearly  three  to 
one  there  was  no  immediate  prospect  of  matrimony 
for  two-thirds  of  the  bachelors,  and  William  Lane 
very  much  feared  that  the  temptation  to  take  wives 
from  among  the  graceful,  docile,  and  industrious 
native  women  would  prove  irresistible. 

The  obvious  way  to  meet  both  difficulties  was  to 
start  forthwith  upon  a  vigorous  campaign  of  recruit- 
ing, restricted,  so  far  as  possible,  to  families  (a 
married  couple  form  a  family  within  the  meaning  of 
the  Paraguayan  law)  and  single  women.  Since 
there  were  already  fifty  men  and  twenty  women  at 
Cosme,  it  would  only  be  necessary  to  recruit  thirty 
single  W'Omen  and  twenty-two  married  couples  to 
redress  the  balance,  hold  the  young  men  to  the 
place  by  family  ties,  and  comply  with  the  Govern- 
ment conditions  for  the  final,  unconditional,  sur- 
render of  the  titles  to  Cosme  land.* 

William  Lane  had  not  the  slightest  doubt  that 
scores  of  recruits  could  be  found  in  England,  only 
too  eager  to  shake  off  the  shackles  of  Capitalism  and 
bid  for  a  share  in  Cosme  bliss.  He  was  anxious, 
however,  that  no  new  members  should  join  who 
were  not  thoroughly  imbued  with  the  proper  Cosme 
sentiment,  and  prepared  to  submit  with  docility  to 
the  existing  regulations.  He,  therefore,  determined 
to  make  a  personal  visit  to  the  United  Kingdom, 
accompanied  by  his  lieutenant,  Tozer,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  sifting  the  wheat  from  the  chaff,  and 
forwarding  only  such  candidates   for   membership 

*  The  possibility  of  future  extension  was  provided  for  by  the 
Government's  promise  to  add  a  further  league  of  land  for  each 
12  families,  beyond  72,  that  settled  at  Cosme. 


A  CORDIAL   RECEPTION  i8i 

as  satisfied  his  exacting  requirements.  The  two 
organisers  sailed  in  September,  1896,  intending  to 
enrol  and  dispatch  some  fifty  members  before 
March,  1897,  when  Lane  would  return,  leaving 
Tozer  to  keep  the  propaganda  going  for  a  few 
months  longer.  In  addition  to  making  arrange- 
ments for  assisted  passages,  the  Paraguayan 
Government  gave  Lane  the  hospitality  of  their 
London  Consulate,  where  a  Cosme  Colony  Agency 
was  established. 

Immediately  on  his  arrival  in  England,  William 
Lane  put  himself  in  communication  with  the  Labour 
and  Socialist  organisations  of  the  United  Kingdom^ 
and  arranged  for  a  whirlwind  campaign  of  meetings 
and  lantern  lectures  in  the  chief  industrial  centres. 
The  years  which  had  elapsed  since  he  first  projected 
his  "ideal"  Commonwealth  had  to  some  extent 
tempered  his  optimism,  but  by  no  means  quashed 
his  enthusiasm.  The  prophet  of  the  new  movement 
who  addressed  himself  to  British  democrats  was 
mellower  and  more  restrained  than  the  fiery  young 
journalist  who  formerly  swayed  the  Australian 
public,  but  his  appeal  was  all  the  more  likely  to 
succeed  on  that  account.  Up  and  down  the  country 
he  preached  Cosmeism  to  sympathetic  listeners,  but 
took  great  care  to  emphasise  the  hardships  insepar- 
able from  pioneering,  in  order  that  none  might 
claim  that  he  had  lured  them  to  Paraguay  by  false 
pretences. 

It  would  serve  no  useful  purpose  to  follow  Lane's 
itinerary,  or  multiply  examples  of  his  burning 
oratory.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  he  met  everywhere 
with  a  cordial    reception,    but    failed   to   enlist   the 

M 


i82  RECRUITING  FOR  COSME 

practical  support  of  any  strong  body  of  advanced 
Socialists  for  a  very  definite  reason- — his  obstinate 
insistence  on  the  old-fashioned  sanctity  of  the 
marriage  vow.  Though  only  too  logical  in  accept- 
ing all  the  other  consequences  of  Socialism,  his 
"irrational"  opposition  to  the  communalisation  of 
wives  kept  a  wide  gulf  fixed  between  him  and  many 
other  extreme  Socialists,  who  but  for  that  reserva- 
tion would  cheerfullv  have  followed  him.  On  the 
other  hand  drawing-room  Socialists,  while  applaud- 
ing his  retention  of  the  institution  of  marriage, 
recoiled  from  his  logical  application  of  the  extremer 
view  in  other  directions. 

His  disillusionment  found  expression  in  the  report 
he  sent  back  to  the  Cosme  Central  Board  : 

"  Little  help  is  to  be  expected  from  any  school  of 
advanced  thought,"  he  wrote.  "This,  because 
those  schools  which  agree  theoretically  with  our 
industrial  methods  are  more  or  less  opposed  to  our 
other  ethical  principles,  while  the  old-fashioned 
people,  who  agree  generally  with  our  other  ethical 
principles  do  not  endorse  those  principles  which 
aim  at  fundamentally  reforming  industrialism.  iVt 
the  same  time  much  sympathy  and  fellow-feeling 
for  us  exist  among  individuals  attached  to  most  of 
the  recognised  schools,  and  many  others^  while  not 
going  all  the  way  with  Cosme,  recognise  that  it  has 
a  distinct  value  as  an  earnest  effort  to  solve  the  great 
social  problem.  In  addition  to  meeting  with 
fellow-feeling  from  many  who  already  profess 
radical  thought,  Cosme  will  find  fellow-feeling 
among  many  who  are  in  reality  radical,  but  who 
have  been  excluded  by  their  conservatism  on  some 


THE    NEW  ARRIVALS  183 

ethical  principles,  from  allying  themselves  with 
advanced  thought  as  generally  presented." 

This  does  not  mean,  of  course,  that  his  recruiting 
effort  met  with  no  result.  In  spite  of  his  careful 
weeding  out  of  all  unsuitable  applications,  he  was 
able  to  dispatch  a  number  of  prospective  settlers, 
who  satisfied  him  that  they  would  make  good 
Cosmans,  but  as  the  tally  was  still  incomplete  he 
decided  to  remain  another  year  in  England,  and 
dispatch  additional  small  parties  from  time  to  time. 

The  most  interesting  feature  of  the  English  and 
Scottish  organisation  was  the  reception  which 
Lane's  own  recruits  received  at  the  hands  of  those 
temporarily  in  charge  at  Cosme.  If  he  supposed 
that,  because  he  had  selected  them,  the  new  arrivals 
would  find  favour  in  the  eyes  of  his  original  flock, 
he  was  grievously  mistaken. 

In  spite  of  the  universal  equality  they  professed, 
the  pioneer  "foundation"  members  not  unnaturally 
regarded  themselves  as  a  sort  of  professed  order  of 
Cosmeism,  towards  whom  mere  novices  should 
show^  due  humility.  If  there  were  any  choice  as 
regards  the  quality  of  housing  accommodation  the 
newcomers  did  not  get  the  best,  being  told  that, 
"  if  they  did  have  to  rough  it  a  little  they  might  well 
be  thankful  that  others  did  the  pioneering." 
Furthermore,  since  the  pioneers  had  hitherto  done 
all  the  "hard  graft,"  it  was  quite  reasonable  that  the 
unpleasanter  tasks  should  be  tackled  in  future  by 
the  raw  recruits;  but,  however  just  such  arrange- 
ments might  be,  it  was  only  natural  that  the  new- 
arrivals  should  feel  dissatisfied.  On  the  other  hand, 
if    the    management    committee    displaced   an    old 


i84  RECRUITING  FOR  COSME 

member  from  some  task  he  liked,  in  favour  of  a  more 
skilful  British  recruit,  it  was  the  former's  turn  to 
feel  aggrieved. 

It  was  between  the  ladies,  however,  that  the  most 
serious  friction  arose.  It  was  at  least  four  years 
since  most  of  the  Cosme  women  had  entered  a  shop. 
During  that  period  they  had  battled  nobly  for  the 
"Cause,"  many  of  them  working  daily  in  the  forest, 
where  thorns  tore  their  clothes  in  shreds;  and 
grinding  poverty  had  made  it  impossible  for  their 
tattered  rags  to  be  replaced.  Any  decent  garments 
which  still  remained  were  reserved  for  such  special 
occasions  as  the  Saturday  evening  socials;  in  the 
ordinary  way,  even  such  elementary  necessities  as 
stockings  were  not  worn,  and  many  elected  to  go 
barefoot  in  preference  to  wearing  the  boots  of  home- 
tanned  leather  which  the  community  supplied.  At 
any  time  it  required  a  considerable  fund  of  philo- 
sophy to  endure  such  deprivations  with  any  show  of 
cheerfulness,  but  when  newcomers  from  England 
appeared  upon  the  scene,  fashionably  attired  from 
head  to  toe,  and  with  enough  good  clothes  in 
reserve  to  last  a  year  or  two,  there  came  a  crisis. 

The  love  which  the  Cosme  ladies  had  been  pre- 
pared to  extend  to  their  newly  arrived  sisters  turned 
to  gall  and  wormwood,  and  bitter  reproaches  were 
heaped  upon  the  latter's  innocent  heads. 

"  Nobody  with  any  sense  of  justice,  much  less  of 
Communism,  would  dream  of  outfitting  to  any  extent 
for  such  a  place  as  Cosme,"  it  was  stated  in  a  later 
issue  of  the  colony's  monthly  paper.  "  However 
little  newcomers  may  have  they  are  sure  to  have 
more  clothing,  bedding,  and  tableware  than  are  left 


6 

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GOOD  CLOTHES   A  CRIME  185 

to  the  founders  of  Cosme  after  five  years'  pioneer- 
ing. We  have  savings  in  the  shape  of  improve- 
ments, machinery,  and  cattle  only  because  for  years 
we  have  been  pinching  ourselves  in  food,  clothing, 
and  creature  comforts.  For  people  to  expect  to 
share  our  savings,  after  spending  their  own  on 
special  personal  outfitting,  is  quite  wrong.  We  do 
not  wish  for  that  class  of  people." 

But  the  bitterness  which  found  expression  in  cold 
print  was  as  nothing  to  the  acute  division  that  showed 
itself  between  the  sprucer  and  more  tattered  indivi- 
duals. As  was  only  natural  the  feeling  found  vent 
in  a  variety  of  ways,  which  could  not  fail  to  make 
the  newcomers  miserable,  and  some  of  them  wished 
they  had  never  left  a  country  where  to  be  well 
dressed  is  not  accounted  a  crime.  In  this  connec- 
tion it  is  interesting  to  note  the  kind  of  tasks  which 
were  allotted  to  the  newly  recruited  Cosman  ladies. 
Some  light  is  thrown  on  the  subject  by  the  following 
official  announcement:* 

"  Tlie  single  men's  washing  and  mending,  up  till 
now  done  by  the  married  women,  has  been  mostly 
taken  over  by  the  new  '  Laundry  and  Sewing 
Department '  organised  early  in  October  when  the 
single  women  arrived.  This  department  consists  at 
present  of  two  members." 

It  is  possible  that  the  ladies  in  question  may  have 
considered  it  a  peculiar  privilege  to  be  told  off  to 
undertake  this  work,  but  the  reflection  suggests  itself 
that  <Sooo  miles  is  a  long  journey  to  take  in  order  to 
become  unpaid  slaves  of  the  wash-tub  ! 

Since  so  much  unpleasantness  existed^  it  was  not 

*  "  Cosme  Monthly,"  November  1897. 


i86  RECRUITING  FOR  COSME 

surprising  that  secessions  of  men  and  women  from 
Cosme  commenced  within  a  week  of  the  first 
English  recruit's  arrival.  The  following  record, 
condensed  from  "Cosme,"  speaks  for  itself: 

March,  1897.  Arrival:  Alf.  Bray,  the  first  mem- 
ber from  England,  arrived  on  the  24th. 

Departure  :  A.  Mc.C ,  who  was  accepted  as 

a  member  in  January,  resigned  membership  on 
March  i8th,  the  reason  assigned  being  that  the 
climate  of  Paraguay  did  not  agree  with  his  health. 

Present  Population :  Fifty-three  men  (including 
two  absent  on  leave,  and  two  in  England  on  Cosme 
business),  twenty  women,  thirty-one  children. 
Total  104, 

April,  1897.  Arrivals  :  The  first  of  the  monthly 
parties  from  England  arrived  on  the  i6th.  The 
party  consisted  of  :  Arthur  Lewis,  a  mason  from 
Stockport;  Mrs.  Lewis  and  one  child;  George  Prid- 
more,  a  carpenter  from  Leicestershire ;  James 
Ricketts,  a  carpenter  from  London. 

Present  Population  :  Total  109. 

May,  1897.  Arrivals:  On  the  25th,  the  second 
party  from  England  arrived.  They  consisted  of : 
Cyril  Allen,  gardener  from  Nottingham ;  Harry 
Buckley,  ex-soldier  from  Macclesfield;  Sidney 
Cash,  deal-worker  from  Birmingham;  John  M. 
Parish,  wood-carver  from  Bradford;  Robert  Rayner, 
warehouseman  from  Huddersfield ;  Nicholas  Vall- 
ance,  postman  from  York. 

On  the  22nd,  Thomas  and  Mrs.  Burgum,  and 
three  children  arrived  from  Queensland. 


MEMBERSHIP   REFUSED  187 

Departures :    On  the  25th,  G.  W,  P and 

J.    R— -,    both    newly   arrived    from    England, 

resigned  membership. 

Present  Population  :  Total  iiS. 

June,   1897.     Withdrawal:    On  the  25th,  R.  W. 

R ,  a  new  English  member,  resigned. 

Present  Population  :  Total  118. 

Jl  LY,  1897.      Withdrawal:   Writing  from  South 

Australia,    H.   S.   T ,    a   foundation    member 

absent  on  leave,  notifies  that  he  will  be  unable  to 
return  to  Cosme  on  account  of  domestic  reasons. 

Present  Population  :  Total  118. 

August,  1897.     Withdrawals :  On  August,  6th, 

J.  A- ,    W.   M and  Mrs.   M- ■  left 

Cosme.  (All  old  members.  Ill-health  given  as 
reason  for  leaving.)  T.  Burgum  and  Mrs.Burgum 
and  family  left  the  colony  on  August  nth. 

Present  Population  :  Total  no. 

September,  1897.  Arrivals:  On  the  4th  of  Sept- 
ember, from  Edinburgh,  William  and  Mrs.  Titilah, 
and  five  children.  W.  Titilah  is  a  bootmaker. 
Alice  Clark  (age  15)  from  London.  Membership 
was  refused  to  two  arrivals  from  Scotland. 

Present  Population  :  Total  n9. 

October,  1897.  Arrivals:  On  October  6th,  the 
fourth  British  party  arrived  at  Cosme.  The  new 
members  are :  George  Gumm  from  Somerset, 
Georgina  and  Annie  Noon  from  Hawicl:. 

Present  Population  :  Total  122. 


i88  RECRUITING  FOR  COSME 

December,    1897.     Withdrmvals :    On   December 

2 1  St,  E.  T and  his  nephew  N.  V left 

Cosme.     (E.  T was  a  pioneer  member.     He 

gave  as  his  reason  for  going  that  he  found  that  he 
was  not  a  Communist.  His  nephew,  who  only 
arrived  from  England  in  May,  left  to  keep  him 
company.) 

Present  Population :  Total  129. 

January,  1898.  Arrivals:  On  January  31st, 
William  and  Mrs.  Bennett  arrived  from  Australia. 

Withdrawals:    On  January  8th,  S.  C and 

G.  G ,  and  on  the  20th,  A.  W.  L with 

wife  and  child,  left  Cosme.  All  were  English 
recruits  and  found  Cosme  life  unsuited  to  them. 

Present  Population  :  Total  127. 

February,    1898.       Withdrawals:    On   February 

loth,  A.  B ,  a  young  English  member  left  on 

account  of  his  unsuitableness  for  Cosme  life.     On 

the  1 2th,  C.  B ,  a  junior,  preparatory  to  his 

parents  withdrawing. 

The  Miss  T 's,  who  arrived  from  England 

on  February  5th,  left  for  Buenos  Aires  on  the  loth, 
they  not  being  satisfied  enough  with  the  place  to 
apply  for  membership. 

Present  Population  :  Total  125. 

April,  1898.  Arrivals:  On  April  8th,  Robert 
Ogilvie,  wife  and  two  children;  George  Holland, 
Annie  Ashton,  from  England. 

Present  Population:  53  men  (including  five 
absent  on  leave),  27  women,  46  children.    Total  126. 


A   BIG   SECESSION  189 

May,  1898.    Departures  :  At  beginning  of  month, 

J.   B and  wife,    R.   O ,   wife  and  two 

children,  recently  arrived  from  Scotland.     Towards 

end  of  month,  *H.   B ,   wife  and  one  child; 

J.  P ,  wife  and  three  children  ;  *J.  A.  S , 

wife  and  two  children;  *F.  B ,  G.   B — , 

*C.  B ,  G.  C — ,  G.  H ,  L.  P , 

*P.  P ,  *H.  S ,  *J.  W .    Those 

marked  (*)  were  with  the  pioneers.  Early  in  the 
month  J.  T.  W left  on  leave  of  absence. 

Present  Population  :  39  men  (including six  absent 
on  leave),  22  women,  38  children.     Total  99, 

A  glance  at  the  above  statistics  reveals  that  there 
were  actually  a  dozen  fewer  adults  at  Cosme  at  the 
end  of  May,  1898,  when  the  great  recruiting  cam- 
paign was  over,  than  in  March,  1897,  when  the  first 
English  member  arrived.  Moreover  in  June  two 
absent  members  resigned,  while,  on  July  ist,  1898, 
eight  more  left,  including  Lane's  ever-faithful  lieu- 
tenant, Arthur  Tozer,  with  his  wife.  At  the 
beginning  of  July,  1898,  there  were  only  30  men, 
20  women,  and  36  children  left  at  Cosme.  It  is  true 
that  six  more  men  were  "absent  on  leave,"  but  that 
usually  proved  a  euphemism  for  withdrawal. 

The  cause  of  the  earlier  departures  has  been 
indicated  already.  The  big  secession  in  May,  how- 
ever, was  directly  due  to  the  fact  that  William  Lane 
had  just  returned  from  England  and  reassumed  the 
reins  of  power.  He  was  welcomed  back  by  121 
persons,  but  within  a  few  weeks  there  were  only  50 
adults  and  36  children  left  upon  the  place.  Yet  this 
by  no  means  caused  the  leader  to  be  cast  down,  for, 


I90  RECRUITING  FOR  COSME 

horror  of  horrors  !  he  discovered  that  during  his 
eighteen  months  absence  the  rank  weed  of  heresy 
had  grown  up  in  the  fair  garden  of  Cosme.  A  con- 
siderable body  of  feehng  had  arisen  in  favour  of 
altering  some  of  his  best  loved  regulations.  It  was 
the  story  of  New  Australia  over  again  ;  and  Lane  no 
more  hesitated  now  as  his  proper  course  of  action 
than  he  had  faltered  then.  Whatever  the  cost,  any 
person  who  held  less  than  the  true  milk  of  the  Gospel 
of  "Cosmeism"  must  be  thrust  out  from  among  the 
congregation. 

In  anticipation,  perhaps,  of  possible  trouble  with 
the  newcomers,  the  last  Cosme  General  Meeting 
(May,  1897)  had  been  induced  to  grant  exceptional 
powers  to  their  elected  committee  of  nine  persons. 
It  did  not  then  occur  to  the  voters  that  the  innocent 
sounding  resolution  "that  a  two-thirds  majority  of 
the  committee,  with  the  consent  of  the  village  chair- 
man, shall  be  necessary  for  the  expulsion  of  a 
member"  would,  when  that  committee's  mandate 
was  within  four  days  of  exhaustion,  be  used  against 
themselves  ! 

The  Annual  Cosme  meeting  for  the  election  of 
committeemen,  etc.,  was  due  to  be  held  on  May 
13th,  1898.  On  May  9th,  William  Lane  and  his 
nine  existing  committeemen  met  "to  take  action  for 
the  maintenance  of  Cosme  principles."  By  their 
unanimous  decision  "  two  members  were  expelled 
from  membership  for  antagonism  to,  and  violation 
of,  the  Communist  principles  of  Cosme."  This 
action  was  promptly  challenged  by  a  considerable 
proportion  of  the  eighty  adults  on  the  settlement, 
but  alas  !    from  one  disability  and  another,   there 


A  CURIOUS   COINCIDENCE  191 

were  only  twenty-seven  full-fledged  voting  members 
on  the  place  (including  Lane  and  committee),  and 
those  upheld  the  expulsion  by  19  votes  to  6.  As  an 
immediate  consequence  those  voting  against  the 
motion  resigned  and,  with  many  of  their  voteless 
sympathisers,  decided  to  withdraw.*  By  a  curious 
coincidence  this  decision  was  taken  upon  Foundation 
Day — the  fourth  anniversary  of  Lane's  own  seces- 
sion from  New  Australia. 

Thus  the  expensive  organisation  campaign  in 
England  proved  more  than  a  failure.  It  was  a 
catastrophe.  After  its  conclusion  Cosme  was  left 
numerically  weaker  than  before;  of  the  15  men  Lane 
had  personally  recruited  in  Britain,  11  had  already 
left,  and  of  the  10  single  girls  only  five  remained. 
In  addition,  he  had  lost  the  adherence  of  some  of  the 
best  of  his  original  stalwarts.  His  must  have  been 
an  iron  resolution  indeed,  if  the  wreckage  of  so  many 
lives  by  "  Cosmeism  "  occasioned  no  wavering  of 
his  personal  faith  in  it. 

*  The  two  expelled  members  were  allowed  the  princely  sura  of 
about  six  pounds  each  with  which  to  convey  themselves  and 
families  back  to  civilisation,  while  those  who  left  voluntarily 
received,  roughly,  two  pounds  ten  shillings  per  family. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 
EXIT   WILLIAM   LANE. 

The  failure  of  the  British  organisation,  and  the 
dismissals  and  secessions  which  followed  it  were 
responsible  for  much  bitterness  of  spirit  at  Cosme. 
Moreover  the  Paraguayan  authorities'  patience  was 
stretched  to  the  breaking  point,  when  they  saw 
depart  from  the  colony  a  considerable  proportion  of 
the  people  whose  passages  from  ^lonte  Video  they 
had  paid  only  a  few  weeks  before.  Yet  Lane  con- 
tinued to  profess  absolute  faith  in  his  own  scheme. 

"We  dream  our  dream  still,"  he  wrote,  "even 
though  among  us  some  have  grown  tired  of  dream- 
ing and  would  wake  again  to  that  so-called  reality, 
in  which  every  man  is  against  his  brother  and 
nothing  is  thought  of  much  worth,  saving  things 
material.  Yet  we  have  chosen  not  to  be  wakened 
but  to  go  on  dreaming  still  that  Communism  is  a 
possible  thing  to  try  after,  though  doubtless  a  very 
impossible  thing  to  fully  attain  to  at  once." 

As  time  went  on  Communism  was  found  increas- 
ingly difficult  "  to  fully  attain  to."  The  resentment 
aroused  in  the  breasts  of  some  of  the  old-timers  by 
the  arrival  of  newcomers,  with  ampler  supplies  oi 
good  clothing,  has  been  recorded.  Such  feeling  was 
to  some  extent  appeased  by  the  voluntary  sharing 
out  of  feminine  fripperies,  but  the  question  of  the 
clothing  allowance  was  bound  to  recur  from  time  to 
time  and  cause  heart-burnings.  At  last  disputes 
became  so  frequent  that  the  regular  clothing  credit 
was  abolished,  and  the  principle  "to  each  according 

192 


THE   CLOTHING   QUESTION  193 

to  his  need,'''*  established  in  its  stead.  It  was 
arranged  that  any  woman  who  required  additional 
garments  made  formal  application  at  the  store,  but 
soon  the  demand  became  so  excessive  that  it  was 
evident  some  sort  of  censorship  would  have  to  be 
exercised.  The  unhappy  storekeeper  found  him- 
self compelled  to  solve  at  short  notice  such  problems 

as  "  Did  Mrs.  really  need  a  new  dress  yet, 

or  would  it  not  last  a  little  longer  with  judicious 
patching?"  Was  it  fair  to  more  careful  mothers, 
who  did  not  neglect  the  "stitch  in  time,"  that  Mrs. 

should  continually  be  getting  grants  of  new 

clothes  to  replace  those  worn  out  before  their  time 
by  her  careless  children  ?  Such  points  as  these  only 
seem  trivial  to  those  who  forget  that  equally 
"trivial"  disputes  have  repeatedly  wrecked  Govern- 
ments. 

When  it  became  evident  that  the  increasing 
demands  upon  the  store  would  shortly  make  it 
bankrupt  a  system  of  budgetting  in  advance  was 
instituted.  Under  this  scheme  each  family  was 
required  to  apprise  the  storekeeper  what  amount  of 
clothing  represented  the  minimum  it  could  man- 
age with  during  the  next  six  months — a  definite 
number  of  yards  of  material  per  man,  woman,  and 
child  (the  latter  according  to  age)  being  laid  down 
as  the  maximum.  But  even  this  system  did  not 
work  smoothly,  for  the  stuff  which  would  make  four 
suits  per  puny  child  could  barely  be  stretched  to 
make  three  for  a  more  substantially  built  youngster 
of   the   same    age.       Again,    some    children    were 

*  By    this    plan    well-clad    newcomers    were     excluded     from 
participation. 


194  EXIT  WILLIAM  LANE 

"harder  upon"  their  clothing  than  others,  and  the 
authorities  had  to  decide  between  issuing  a  supple- 
mentary allowance  or  letting  them  go  naked.  In 
the  end,  the  supplementary  clothing  allowance 
caused  so  much  dissension  that  a  return  to  the  old 
plan  of  fixed  monthly  credits  was  found  necessary. 

This  clothing  question  was  only  one  of  a  dozen 
causes  of  bickering  which  sprang  up,  when  it  became 
evident  that  hardship  was  not  merely  an  initial  diffi- 
culty, but  seemed  likely  to  remain  a  permanent 
feature  of  Cosme  life.  Newcomers  in  particular 
were  affected  by  the  poverty  of  the  food  supply. 
During  the  year  1899,  when  there  were  about  100 
souls  at  Cosme,  the  total  edible  stores  consumed, 
exclusive  of  fruit  and  garden  vegetables,  were  as 
follows:  corn  meal,  13  tons;  mandioca,  S3  tons; 
sweet  potatoes,  25  tons;  pumpkins,  3  tons;  beans, 
if  tons;  treacle,  5^  tons;  sugar,  12  cwt.;  coffee, 
I J  cwt. ;  tobacco,  4^  cwt. ;  beef,  8|  cwt. ;  bacon  and 
ham,  14  cwt.;  pork,  8  cwt.;  lard,  2  cwt.;  fowls, 
128;  eggs,  10,000;  milk,  907  gals. ;  game  (includ- 
ing deer,  agouti,  armadillo,  fish,  etc.),  about  10 
cwt.*  Though  in  the  aggregate  this  list  looks  quite 
imposing,  a  little  calculation  shows  that  the 
average  daily  allowance  of  non-vegetarian  food  was 
less  than  one-third  of  an  egg  and  i^  ounces  of  meat 
per  person. 

Even  such  a  meagre  diet  was  only  made  possible 
by  raising  loans  upon  all  the  colony's  movable 
possessions.  The  Administration  was  compelled  to 
resort  to  the  plan  of  mortgaging  all  vendible 
resources  in  spite  of  the  fact  that,  as  at  New 
*  "  Cosme  Monthly,"  January  1900. 


A   STRANGE    REGULATION  195 

Australia,    they  were  surrounded   on   all   sides  by 
readily  saleable  timber. 

The  most  pressing  problem  confronting  Cosme 
was  still  the  need  for  importing  (a)  single  women, 
to  become  the  wives  of  Cosme  bachelors,  and  thus 
tie  them  to  the  colony,  and  (b)  married  couples. 
But,  owing  to  the  fiasco  in  which  Lane's  campaign 
had  ended,  no  more  assisted  passages  could  be 
expected  from  the  Government  for  the  present. 
Moreover  the  authorities  in  Asuncion  were  tired  of 
hearing  the  grievances  of  stranded  British  subjects, 
so,  for  the  future,  it  was  laid  down  that  would-be 
Cosmans  must  not  only  bear  their  own  expenses  but 
also  deposit  a  sufficient  sum  with  the  Cosme  chair- 
man to  take  them  home  again  should  they  be 
dissatisfied.  In  the  case  of  single  women  there  was 
no  such  provision,  however,  as  the  following 
extraordinary  regulation  shows  : 

"  Single  women  to  pay  their  own  passage  to 
Asuncion  but  wuU  not  be  required  to  make  any 
deposit  or  payment  to  the  colony  and  will  have 
passages  to  Buenos  Aires  paid  by  the  colony  should 
mutual  trial  not  result  in  full  membership;  the 
colony  may  terminate  the  mutual  trial  of  a  single 
woman  at  any  time  and  will  provide  such  passage 
upon  doing  so ;  but  passages  w-ill  not  be  so  provided 
for  any  single  woman  who  may  herself  terminate 
mutual  trial  before  the  completion  of  three  months 
residence." 

Any  man  who  could  deliberately  contemplate  the 
stranding  of  unprotected  English  women  in  Buenos 
Aires,  must  be  singularly  ignorant  of  the  deplor- 
able  conditions    existing    in    that    city.       Possibly 


196  EXIT   WILLIAM   LANE 

the  framers  of  that  regulation  foresaw  that  most 
women  would  prefer  to  accept  a  Cosme  suitor,  how- 
ever ineligible,  and  submit  with  docility  to  the 
miseries  inseparable  from  Communism,  rather  than 
face  the  risks  of  far  worse  degradation  in  the 
Argentine  capital.  The  reason  given  for  exporting 
women,  ineligible  for  membership,  to  Buenos  Aires 
was  that  there  "  employment  at  English  wages  can 
be  got  in  the  numerous  English  families."  What 
must  become  of  women,  who  were  not  lucky  enough 
to  fall  at  once  into  honourable  employment,  was  not 
considered,  apparently.  William  Lane  was  certainly 
nodding  when  he  gave  assent  to  such  a  regulation. 

It  was  not,  in  fact,  surprising  if  Lane's  old  grip 
of  affairs  were  beginning  to  relax.  It  was  just  six 
years  since  he  had  left  Australia,  at  the  head  of  a 
band  of  enthusiasts,  "  to  teach  the  world  a  lesson," 
and  during  that  period  he  had  faced  sufficient  crush- 
ing disappointments  to  break  the  heart  of  any  man. 
Latterly,  moreover,  he  had  lost  the  allegiance  of 
some  of  his  closest  friends  and  supporters,  and  a 
large  proportion  of  his  flock  were  later  recruits  of  a 
much  lower  intellectual  order,  many  of  whom  were 
unmistakeably  opposed  to  him  personally.  Even  his 
best  friends  were  bound  to  admit  that  his  expensive 
English  campaign,  which  was  to  have  achieved  so 
much,  had  done  the  place  a  great  deal  more  harm 
than  good,  and  it  is  doubtful  whether  he  would  have 
been  re-elected  to  the  chairmanship,  which  he  had 
hitherto  monopolised  (he  had  served  during  two 
periods  of  three  years  each),  if  he  had  stood  for  it. 
However,  he  did  not  stand.  It  was  officially  stated 
that :  "  In  notifying  his  intention  not  to  accept  any 


HIS    REASONS  197 

nomination  for  further  office-bearing,  the  retiring 
chairman,  W.  Lane,  said  that  '  apart  from  health 
reasons  which  alone  were  more  than  sufficient,'  he 
wished  to  become  entirely  free  to  propagandize." 
By  the  popular  vote  William  Lane's  mantle  fell 
upon  his  brother,  John,  who  had  hitherto  acted  as 
schoolmaster. 

It  would  have  been  interesting  to  observe  how 
"  King  Billy  "  settled  down  to  the  arduous  duties 
of  a  non-official — as  a  member  of  the  "  hoeing 
gang,"  for  instance.  Since  the  new  chairman  and 
his  executive  committee  of  three  began  very  soon  to 
transgress  against  William  Lane's  root  principle, 
re  the  "non-employment  of  outside  labour,  it  would 
have  been  illuminating  to  watch  William's  attitude 
towards  them.  Had  he  remained,  would  he  have 
been  expelled  for  contumacy,  one  wonders?  It  is 
impossible  to  say,  for  shortly  after  the  expiry  of  his 
second  term  of  office  William  Lane  shook  the  red 
earth  of  Paraguay  from  his  boots,  and  went  back  to 
Australia,  where  he  took  over  the  editorship  of  the 
Sydney  Worker.  From  that  time  the  original 
apostle  of  Cosmeism  disappeared  for  ever  from  the 
ken  of  Cosmans.* 

*It  is  often  asserted  that  William  Lane  "deserted"  Cosrae 
when  he  forsook  the  place  in  1899.  But  in  this  connection  it 
should  be  remembered  that,  so  long  as  he  remained  there,  he  was 
powerless  to  assist  his  wretched  brethren  financially,  whereas  by 
earning  his  living  in  the  outside  world  he  was  able  to  remit  from 
his  earnings  a  "loan"  for  the  benefit  of  those- who  remained  at 
Cosme.  This  non-intereat-bearing  "loan"  of  £211.  4s.,  which 
he  must  have  known  was  unlikely  to  be  repaid,  figured  first  in 
the  Cosme  balance-sheet  for  May  1900. 

N 


198  EXIT  WILLIAM  LANE 

John  Lane's  promotion  to  the  chairmanship  was 
marked  by  sundry  alterations  in  the  regulations 
(including  reduction  of  the  deposit  made  by  trial 
members  to  £$  per  adult)  of  which  the  principal 
was  that  relating  to  the  employment  of  native 
labour.  It  was  a  fundamental  principle  of  Cosmeism 
that  the  wages  system  was  utterly  wicked,  never- 
theless the  accursed  thing  found  its  way  into  Cosme 
twelve  months  after  William  Lane's  departure.  It 
began,  of  course,  as  a  temporary  expedient,  but  was 
found  so  convenient  that  principles  went  hang  and 
the  Cosmans  as  a  body  became  employers  of  labour, 
battening  upon  the  "surplus  value"  of  the  natives' 
work  in  the  forest  and  in  the  sugar-cane  field. 

"At  a  committee  held  on  September  4th  (1900)," 
says  the  official  journal,  "the  chairman  reported 
that  unless  otherwise  instructed  by  the  committee 
he  intended  advising  the  executive  to  have  steps 
taken  for  the  immediate  felling  of  two  acres  of 
monte  by  native  labour,  in  order  to  provide  firewood 
to  finish  the  season's  crushing.  It  was  pointed  out 
that  the  work  could  not  be  done  by  colony  labour 
without  stopi>age  of  crushing  and  planting;  and  as 
the  results  of  the  crushing  were  relied  on  to  meet  the 
financial  obligations  of  the  colony,  such  stoppage 
was  altogether  undesirable.  The  objections  to  the 
proposals  were  :  the  having  natives  working  on  the 
colony,  and  also  to  any  hiring  of  labour.  The 
voting  on  the  committee  resulted  in  a  tie.  The 
chairman  refrained  from  using  his  casting  vote, 
and,  with  the  approval  of  the  commitee,  left  the 
matter  over  for  decision  by  general  meeting." 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  Alexander  Dick,  a 


AN  EVIL  SYSTEM  199 

member  of  the  committee,  resigned  membership  on 
September  4th,  and  subsequently  left  Cosme 
together  with  his  three  brothers  and  his  mother, 
who  had  been  organised  in  Glasgow  in  1897.  This 
did  not  affect  the  chairman's  plans,  however,  for 
"At  a  special  general  meeting  held  on  September 
1 2th,  it  was  resolved  by  15  votes  to  5  that  the 
management  be  empowered  to  employ  native  labour 
to  procure  lirewood  in  the  present  emergency." 

Following  this  decision  another  committeeman, 
John  Delugar,  resigned  on  September  17th,  but  the 
loss  of  a  few  members  was  more  than  compensated 
for  by  the  gain  from  the  exploitation  of  native 
labour.  In  the  year  1899,  when  the  colonists  did 
their  own  work,  the  sums  received  for  sales  of 
produce  totalled  $2366;  in  1901,  the  year  following 
the  new  regulations,  the  receipts  had  leaped  to 
$9898;  from  May  ist,  1903,- to  May  ist,  1904,  they 
came  to  $20,658. 

Of  course  the  Cosmans  tried  to  prove  to  them- 
selves and  to  the  outside  world  that  they  did  not 
transgress  the  Socialist  creed  by  employing  native 
labour  at  such  low  wages  (sixpence  per  day)  that  a 
handsome  profit  could  be  derived  from  their 
energies.  But  nobody  was  hoodwinked.  From 
across  the  ocean  came  a  letter  which  reproachfully 
stated  that:  "Cosme  is  turning  its  back  on  its 
principles.  .  .  .  The  colonists  had  fled  from  parti- 
cipation in  the  horrors  of  wage-slavery,  sweating, 
exploitation  of  human  labour  by  capitalists,  etc., 
and  now  in  far-off  Paraguay  they  were  introducing 
the  evil  system." 

The  Cosmans'  defence  to  this  just  indictment  is 


200  EXIT   WILLIAM   LANE 

an  amazing  document  :  "  While  recognising  the 
evils  of  commercialism  to  such  an  extent  as  to  feel 
it  incumbent  on  us  to  live  with  each  other  in 
brotherhood,"  it  states,  "and  not  to  work  for  each 
other  for  wages,  or  lend  to  each  other  for  interest, 
or  take  rent  from  each  other  for  land  or  houses,  but 
to  care  for  and  work  for  and  share  with  each  other 
in  fellowship,  we  have  never  made  any  pretence  of 
being  guided  in  our  business  relations  with  outside 
non-co-operators  by  any  other  than  business 
principles." 

The  writer  of  that  statement  had  strayed  very  far 
indeed  from  the  teaching  of  William  Lane's  gospel. 
Nevertheless,  from  the  organising  point  of  view,  the 
distinction  drawn  between  those  within  and  those 
without  the  fold  was  a  brilliantly  conceived  notion. 
When  William  Lane  went  recruiting  he  had  noth- 
ing to  offer  but  a  share  in  the  common  poverty ; 
how  much  more  successful  might  a  man  be 
who  could  hold  out  the  prospect  of  exploiting 
Cosme's  resources  by  the  labour  of  others  for  the 
Cosmans'  benefit  ?  Finding  John  Lane  possessed 
of  such  a  commonsense  point  of  view  the  Para- 
guayan Government  once  more  went  to  great 
expense  to  assist  the  Cosme  Colony.  When,  in 
May,  1 90 1,  John  Lane  decided  to  try  his  fortune  as 
an  organiser,  the  emigration  authorities  paid  his 
return  fare  round  the  world,  and  agreed  to  restore 
the  original  arrangement  by  which  they  paid  the 
expenses  of  would-be  Cosmans  from  Monte  Video 
to  the  colony.  At  the  same  time  the  Cosme 
Monthly  blossomed  forth  on  greatly  improved  paper 
with  an  attractive  illustration  in  each  number,  and 


At  Cosme  children  were  "  cared  for  "  by  the  community. 


TO    FACE    P.    200. 


CHANGED   CONDITIONS  201 

a  still  more  attractive  balance  sheet,  exhibiting  an 
excess  of  assets  over  liabilities  amounting  to 
$179,485! 

As  the  population  at  the  time  consisted  of  only 
26  men  (four  absent),  17  women,  and  51  children, 
it  would  appear  that,  with  such  an  ample  balance, 
they  could  all  have  lived  in  clover,  but  as  a  matter 
of  fact  the  Cosmans  were  enduring  extraordinary 
hardships.  The  meat  allowance  had  been  sus- 
pended, and  they  were  living  entirely  on  a 
vegetarian  diet,  with  the  exception  of  a  small 
allowance  of  semi-liquid  lard,  which  was  served  out 
occasionally.  As  they  pulled  their  belts  tight  to 
suppress  the  gnawings  of  hunger,  how  some  of  the 
men  envied  lucky  John  Lane  his  delightful  eighteen 
months'  excursion  in  civilised  England  and 
Australia  ! 

It  was  John  Lane's  intention  to  send  a  large 
number  of  recruits  to  Cosme  in  time  for  the  1902 
sugar  season,  but  in  this  he  was  disappointed.  To 
his  surprise,  conditions  had  altered  remarkably  in 
Australia  during  the  last  nine  years.  He  accounted 
to  his  impatient  fellow-Cosmans  for  the  slow  pro- 
gress he  was  making  by  explaining  that  "(i)  The 
old  unionism  of  the  bush  has  gone  back.  (2)  The 
old  Socialistic  idea  has  become  much  less  prevalent. 
In  fact  it  is  only  occasionally  in  these  parts  you 
drop  across  a  Socialist.  (3)  There  is  a  decided 
growth  in  the  Imperialistic  idea.  In  the  old  days 
there  was  very  little  of  this.  One  part  of  the  world 
was  pretty  near  as  good  as  another.  There  is  a 
greater  desire  than  before  to  be  under  the  British 
flag.       (4)    The    drought    has    made    it   extremely 


202  EXIT  WILLIAM  LANE 

difficult  for  men  to  raise  the  necessary  funds  to 
proceed  to  Cosme."  He  might  have  added  as  a 
fifth  reason  that  he  did  not,  fortunately,  possess 
his  brother's  magnetic  personality.  Nevertheless 
he  contrived  to  send  a  certain  number  of  recruits  to 
Cosme  before  his  own  return  in  December,  1902. 
The  newcomers,  however,  proved  no  better  able  to 
settle  down  happily  with  the  "old-timers"  than 
William  Lane's  recruits. 

In  July,  1901,  when  John  Lane  sailed  upon  his 
organising  campaign,  the  population  of  Cosme  was 
26  men,  16  women,  46  children.  Total  88.  By 
June,  1904,  it  had  been  reduced  to  22  men,  11 
women,  and  36  children.     Total  69. 

As  before,  a  dismissal,  "  for  persistent  defiance 
of  Colony  authority  and  regulations,"  and  subse- 
quent secessions  of  "old-timers,"  were  largely 
responsible  for  the  decrease  (the  expelled  man  was 
a  member  of  six  years'  standing,  who  it  was  alleged 
"  during  the  last  four  years  had  shown  Anarchistic 
tendencies,  and  had  throughout  failed  to  work  in 
harmony  with  those  entrusted  with  the  direction  of 
the  colony  industries,  while  latterly  his  attitude  had 
become  increasingly  and  more  openly  antagon- 
istic"). Out  of  the  fifteen  "trial  members,"  who 
were  on  the  rolls  in  1903,  only  four  remained  in 
1904.  The  eleven  who  left  were  thus  accounted 
for  :  "  One  had  his  membership  terminated  by  the 
committee;  one  was  notified  that  there  was  little 
chance  of  his  being  accepted  as  a  full  member,  and 
he  consequently  took  the  first  opportunity  of  going ; 
one  left  because  of  disagreement  with  the  colony 
regulation    requiring    full    members    to    contribute 


LAMENTABLE  FAILURE  203 

their  capital  as  a  free  gift  to  the  colony ;  six  left  on 
account  of  dissatisfaction  with  or  unfittedness  for 
the  conditions  of  the  colony;  two  resigned  owing 
to  reasons  other  than  dissatisfaction  with  the 
colony." 

Thus  John  Lane's  organising  campaign  proved 
as  lamentable  a  failure  as  his  brother's.  In  May, 
1904,  he  was  replaced*  by  a  new  chairman,  and  next 
month  the  publication  of  the  Cosme  Monthly  ceased. 
At  that  date  the  colony's  cash  liabilities  amounted 
to  $31,993,  against  cash  in  hand  $623.  It  is  true 
that  the  two  colonists  who  acted  as  auditors  cheer- 
fully set  a  value  on  the  land,  improvements,  etc.,  of 
over  $200,000, t  but  they  ignored  the  fact  that  the 
conditions  attached  to  the  grant  of  territory  (the 
settlement  of  72  families)  had  by  no  means  been 
complied  with.  Something  of  the  changed  spirit  of 
the  place  peeps  out  in  the  snarling  tone  of  the  final 
manifesto — so  different  from  those  penned  by 
William  Lane.  "  Many  people  come  here  over- 
loaded wath  cut  and  dry  ideals,"  the  writer  com- 
plains. "  This  colony  is  not,  and  never  has  been, 
in  anything  like  the  full,  usual,  acceptance  of  the 
word,  a  Communistic  one.  .  .  .  We  share  equally 
the  results  of  our  common  labour;  not  unequally. 
If  one  man's  wants  are  greater  than  another's  he 
has  got  to  curb  them.  Here,  as  elsewhere,  a  man 
has  got  to  make  and  win  his  own  friendships. 
They  aren't  ready  made  for  him.  .  .  .  The  daily 
direction  of  common  affairs  is  governed  by  officials 
elected  yearly,   whose  instructions  have  got  to  be 

*  Shortly  afterwards  John  Lane  left  Cosme  Colony. 

tThe  land  with  all  its  timber  intact  was  bought  for  $20,000. 


204  EXIT   WILLIAM  LANE 

obeyed  whether  one  agrees  or  differs  from  them.  .  .  . 
We  employ  native  labour  outside  the  village,  mainly 
to  develop  our  timber  industry.  We  trust  this 
necessity  will  not  be  continuous,  but  this  is  by  the 
way,  the  point  is,  that  we  do  at  present,  and  will  in 
all  probability  for  some  time  to  come,  so  employ  for 
profit  such  labour." 

Many  secessions  from  Cosme  were  directly  caused 
by  the  admission  of  natives  to  the  place;  several 
fathers  of  families  withdrew  ostensibly  for  other 
reasons,  but  really  because  they  feared  admixture 
with  the  Paraguayans.*  Among  such  were  the 
Gilmores.  When  she  reached  Australia  Mrs. 
Gilmore  stated  that  there  were  people  remaining  at 
Cosme,     with    no    intention    of    leaving    it,     who 

*  Valuable  light  is  shed  on  this  question  by  Senor  Don  J.  J. 
Tellechea,  Chilian  Consul  to  Sydney,  N.S.W.,  who,  in  a  com- 
munication to  the  "  South  American  Journal  "  (December  27th, 
1902)  states  that  "  Mrs.  Gilmore  .  .  .  admits  the  kindly  disposition 
of  the  native  'Paraguayo,'  but  when  it  comes  to  the  colony's 
social  intercourse  with  him  she  draws  the  line,  and  rebels  at  the 
idea  of  finally  becoming  assimilated  to  his  'inferior  race.'  This 
might  have  been  one  of  the  tenets  of  the  original  '  New  Australia ' 
communistic  code,  but  to  South  American  eyes  it  appears  to  be  a 
mere  reflection  of  superiority  of  race  which  the  '  gringo  '  evinces 
over  the  South  American  'criollo,'  and  which  is  so  exasperating 
and  in  such  a  large  measure  responsible  for  the  depth  of  feeling 
that  pervades  civilised  Latin- America  in  regard  to  his  self-sufficient 
lordship.  Yet,  assimilation  becomes  in  the  second,  or  at  the 
outside  the  third,  generation  absolute  and  almost  fatal,  and  there 
is  gradually  evolving  from  this  process  all  over  Latin-America  an 
ultimate  uniform  and  characteristic  national  type,  which  practi- 
cally everyone  that  has  lived  in  that  privileged  continent  will 
admit,  is  often  and  in  many  ways  an  improvement  on  both  sides 
of  the  parent  stock." 


BURDENED   WITH  DEBT  205 

expressed  their  conviction  that  the  children  of 
some  of  those  then  resident  would  marry  natives. 
"  Up  to  the  time  we  left,"  she  said  in  the  Sydney 
Telegraph,  "generally  speaking,  one  might  say, 
there  had  been  no  intercourse  with  natives.  .  .  . 
Speaking  particularly  as  to  certain  cases,  there  had. 
.  .   .  That  is  what  the  colony  has  to  look  to." 

The  record  of  perpetual  secessions,  appearing  in 
the  Cosme  Monthly,  had  proved  so  poor  an  adver- 
tisement of  the  settlement  in  the  past  that  it  was 
perhaps  a  wise  plan  for  the  Cosmans  to  cease 
publication  and  keep  domestic  squabbles  to  them- 
selves in  future.  Moreover,  those  who  in  the  past 
possessed  no  vote,  and  w-ere  obliged  to  keep  their 
actual  beliefs  to  themselves,  were  now  "old-timers" 
with  power  to  alter  the  Constitution,  if  they  chose, 
as  they  thought  lit.  If  they  should  come  to  any 
such  decision  there  was  no  need  to  apprise  the  whole 
world  of  their  intentions.  After  the  departure  of 
Leek,  John  Lane,  and  other  original  stalwarts,  there 
was  no  longer  any  strong  party  w'ith  deep  convic- 
tions on  the  subject  of  Cosmeism.  Burdened  wdth 
debt  on  the  sugar-cane  crushing  plant,  and  other 
machinery  which  they  had  bought  out  of  borrowed 
money,  and  sick  of  living  lives  of  drudgery  amidst 
surroundings  no  better  than  those  of  the  natives, 
many  of  the  Cosmans  only  stayed  on  in  the  hope  of 
securing  a  share  of  the  spoil  when,  if  ever,  the 
Government  offered  to  pay  off  the  bank  mortgages 
on  condition  that  Cosme  should  abandon  its 
crippling  principles. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

A  BLACK  TIME  AT  NEW  AUSTRALIA. 

To  return  now  to  New  Australia,  it  has  been  shown 
that  the  affairs  of  the  colonists  at  that  settlement 
had  got  into  a  dejDlorable  muddle.  Yet,  under  any- 
other  system  of  living  than  the  Socialist  regime, 
they  might  yet  have  retrieved  their  position,  for, 
as  Mr.  Peel  remarked,  "  in  spite  of  their  difficulties 
it  must  be  recollected  that  they  are  in  possession  of 
350,000  acres  of  the  very  finest  land  in  Paraguay, 
with  pasturage  sufficient  to  keep  at  least  70,000  head 
of  cattle.  .  .  .  Buying  cattle  for  purposes  of  fatten- 
ing should  yield  in  Paraguay  a  profit  of  at  least 
20  to  30  per  cent.,  and  the  Association  on  starting 
expected  that  it  would  not  be  long  before  they  were 
doing  a  good  trade.  They  bought  2500  head  and 
put  up  about  eight  miles  of  wire  fencing,  but  owing 
to  the  causes  mentioned  this  number  has  been 
already  considerably  reduced.  ...  In  addition, 
they  have  got  about  90  cows,  170  horses,  and  a 
large  number  of  pigs  and  poultry.  They  have 
cleared  about  70  acres  of  woodland  ....  and 
cultivated  about  213  acres.  .  .  .  They  have  large 
forests  of  valuable  timber,  but  no  sawmills ;  they 
are  engaged  at  this  moment  in  making  bricks  to 
start  a  tannery,  but  the  work  is  proceeding  slowly 
for  want  of  proper  appliances,  at  a  time  too  when 
they  ought  to  be  engaged  in  erecting  houses  in  the 
place  of  the  uncomfortable  barns  and  sheds  of  mud 

206 


WILD-CAT  SCHEMES  207 

and  thatch  in  which  they  are  at  present  living,  and 
even  these  are  not  put  up  in  a  sufficient  number  to 
sheher  all  the  colonists,  a  few  of  whom  at  present 
are  sleeping  under  tents.  .  .  .  They  have  started 
a  band  which  plays  every  evening,  and  one  of  the 
first  steps  they  will  take  as  soon  as  their  funds  will 
permit,  will  be  to  build  a  hall  for  the  purpose  of 
lectures,  and  concerts,  as  well  as  dancing.* 

Tanneries,  concerts  !  Any  wild-cat  scheme  was 
good  enough  for  New  Australia  to  waste  its  energies 
upon,  at  a  time  when  those  energies  were  so 
paralysed  that  the  place  was  not  even  self-support- 
ing to  the  extent  of  growing  a  sufficient  food  supply 
for  home  use.  Compare  the  70  acres  of  forest  land 
cleared  at  New  Australia,  in  one  year,  by  250  persons, 
with  the  achievement  of  a  single  Frenchman  on  an 
individualistic  colony  in  another  part  of  Paraguay. 

"At  a  short  distance  from  the  station,"  reported 
Mr.  Findlav.  after  visiting  Gonzalez, f  "we  turned 
into  a  narrow  '  picada  '  or  lane  cut  through  the 
virgin  forest.  Similar  roads  are  cut  parallel  to  each 
other  at  equal  distances.  On  each  side  of  the  road 
at  intervals  were  clearings  planted  with  maize  and 
mandioca.  The  first  of  these  we  visited,  evidently 
the  'show'  clearing,  belonging  to  a  Frenchman. 
This  man  had  cleared  a  space  of  about  10  acres  in 
13  months. 

"  When  we  looked  at  the  dense  forest  of  hard- 
wood trees,  towering  above  a  tangled  mass  of 
creepers  and  undergrowth,  it  seemed  almost  incred- 
ible that  so  much  could  have  been  accomplished  by 

*  Foreign  Office,  Miscellaneous  Series,  1895,  No.  358 
t  Foreign  Office,  Annual  Series,  1894,  No.  1357. 


208  BLACK  TIME  AT  NEW  AUSTRALIA 

a  single  man  (by  no  means  a  Hercules),  whose 
principal  instruments  had  been  an  axe  and  a  box  of 
matches.  The  little  rancho  was  surrounded  by 
maize,  mandioca,  man!  (pea-nut),  tobacco,  beans, 
sugar-cane,  alfalfa,  melons,  and  every  sort  of  veget- 
able. Some  wheat  had  been  grown,  but  was  of 
poor  quality,  perhaps  owing  to  bad  seed.  The 
colonist  showed  us  a  little  hollow  which  he  had 
converted  into  a  miniature  paddy-field,  and  the  rice 
was  coming  up  luxuriantly.  What  we  actually 
saw  growing  represented  a  small  fortune  for  this 
hard-working  Frenchman." 

From  this  it  would  appear  that  one  Frenchman 
working  for  himself  is  worth,  as  a  colonist,  some 
thirty-five  Australians  labouring  for  each  other ! 
(Though,  as  it  will  presently  appear,  the  latter  were 
easily  able  to  outstrip  all  competitors  when  the 
energy-destroying  regime  of  Socialism  was  aboli- 
shed.) While  the  Frenchman  plied  his  axe  with  a 
light  heart  in  the  forest,  lived  luxuriously,  and 
rapidly  piled  up  a  comfortable  competency,  the 
Australians  sank  day  by  day  into  lower  depths  of 
misery  and  degradation. 

It  was  a  black  time  indeed  at  New  Australia,  but 
the  natural  phenomenon  that  the  darkest  hour 
immediately  precedes  the  dawn,  applied  forcibly  in 
their  case.  Now  that  there  was  no  longer  anything 
to  be  gained  by  Socialism,  even  the  drones  were 
willing  to  suspend  it.  By  a  vote  of  the  majority  it 
was  decided  that  the  Constitution  should  be  altered ; 
henceforth  every  man  would  be  entitled  to  dispose 
as  he  pleased  of  the  fruit  of  his  own  labour,  and  a 
new  incentive  was  given  to  industry. 


SOCIALISM   DETHRONED  209 

According  to  the  Socialist  creed  this  was  a  retro- 
grade step  that  the  New  AustraUans  were  taking. 
There  were  one  or  two  indeed  who  gloomily  quoted 
Mr.  Blatchford's  dictum  :  "With  regard  to  the  claim 
that  men  should  be  left  free  to  fight  each  for  his  own 
hand — is  that  civilisation  or  anarchy  ?  And  will  it 
result  in  peace  or  in  war,  in  prosperity  or  in 
disaster  ?  Not  civilisation,  but  savagery ;  not 
Christianity,  but  cannibalism  is  the  spirit  of  this 
doctrine  of  selfishness  and  folly.  ...  Is  not  love 
stronger  than  hate?  And  will  not  a  society  founded 
on  love  and  justice  certainly  flourish,  as  the  society 
founded  on  hate  and  strife  will  certainly  perish?" 
But  to  those  pessimists  others  replied  that  neither 
love  nor  justice,  nor  prosperity,  nor  civilisation,  but 
the  reverse  had  been  found  under  Socialism.  In 
fact,  in  every  particular  the  claims  of  the  theorists 
had  been  falsified.  The  great  majority  of  the  New 
Australians  hailed  the  final  dethronement  of 
Socialism  as  the  dawn  of  a  new  and  brighter  day. 

It  was  once  said,  in  all  reverence,  by  a  famous  news- 
paper editor  that  the  Bible,  with  its  terse,  expressive, 
concentrated  style,  would  remain  for  all  time  as  an 
example  of  first-rate  journalism.  Certainly  it  would 
be  hard  to  pen  a  paragraph  more  vividly  describing 
the  pass  to  which  things  had  come,  at  New 
Australia,  than  Isaiah  iii,  5,  "And  the  people  shall 
be  oppressed,  every  one  by  another,  and  every  one 
by  his  neighbour.  The  child  shall  behave  himself 
proudly  against  the  ancient,  and  the  base  against 
the  honourable."  Freedom  of  action  was  denied  to 
all,  the  smallest  details  of  each  one's  daily  life  were 
jealously    spied    upon    by    some    other,    and    the 


2IO  BLACK  TIME  AT  NEW  AUSTRALIA 

degrading  atmosphere  of  mistrust,  which  turned 
every  man  against  his  neighbour,  was  exploited  by 
the  base  for  their  own  ends. 

A  bHght  seemed  to  descend  upon  everything 
managed  by  the  community,  and  the  children 
proved  no  exception  to  the  rule.  Deliberately  cut 
off  from  the  softening  influences  of  religion,  and 
brought  up  to  ignore  all  distinctions  of  age  or  sex, 
it  was  natural  for  them  lo  seek  always  their  own 
pleasure  and  ride  rough-shod  over  the  old  and 
infirm.  Untaught  and  unrestrained,  the  neglected 
children  seemed  doomed  to  suffer  all  their  lives  for 
the  follies  of  their  parents.  This  was  perhaps  the 
saddest  aspect  of  the  New  Australia  fiasco. 

As  soon  as  the  resolution,  abolishing  Socialism, 
was  carried,  Frederick  Kidd,  under  whose  sane  and 
practical  adminstration  the  change  was  brought 
about,  set  off  to  Asuncion  to  interview  the  Govern- 
ment, whom  he  found  sympathetically  disposed  and 
prepared  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  assist  the 
colonists.  Withdrawing  the  original  grant  of 
territory,  the  President  confirmed  them  in  posses- 
sion of  the  twenty-five  square  miles  on  which  they 
were  actually  settled,  and  approved  a  scheme 
whereby  every  man  was  entitled  to  select  for  himself 
an  allotment  of  sixty  squares  of  agricultural  ground, 
for  which  he  would  be  given  title  deeds,  when  he  had 
built  a  house  and  complied  with  the  usual  condi- 
tions. The  right  of  grazing  over  the  grass  lands 
was  reserved  in  common  for  all,  so  that  it  was 
possible  for  every  individual  colonist  to  become  a 
big  cattle  farmer  if  he  could  find  the  necessary 
capital.      This   fact   created  fresh   ambition  in  the 


LABOUR'S  TRUE   FRIEND  211 

heart  of  every  family,  and  there  was  a  general 
exodus  of  able-bodied  men  to  the  railway  works  at 
Sapucay,  to  Asuncion,  Rosario,  or  Buenos  Aires — 
anywhere  where  good  wages  could  be  earned  by  a 
man  willing  to  work  his  fingers  to  the  bone. 

One  colonist,  who  now  ow-ns  many  hundred  head 
of  cattle,  worked  as  a  butcher  in  an  Argentine  meat 
works,  where  wages  are  high,  living  on  the  odd 
halfpence  of  his  pay  and  remitting  the  balance  to 
his  wife,  to  be  carefully  invested  in  lean  cattle,  for 
which  a  ready  market  could  be  found  when  fattened. 
The  Administrator  himself  looked  for  work  as  a 
bootmaker's  assistant  in  Asuncion  (he  had  once  had 
a  prosperous  business  of  his  own),  but,  to  his 
delight,  a  leather  merchant  set  him  up  with  a  stock 
of  leather  and  even  became  responsible  to  a  third 
party  for  the  value  of  the  necessary  tools.  Being  a 
good  workman,  he  soon  made  headway  and  became 
a  cattle  owner  also,  though  it  was  principally  on  his 
trade  that  he  relied  for  a  living.  The  story  of  other 
colonists  was  similar.  One  and  all  found  salvation 
in  the  "  iron  law  of  wages,"  and  discovered  for 
themselves  that  Capital  is  the  indispensable  ally 
and  friend,  and  not  the  enemy,  of  Labour.  The 
legitimate  ambition  of  each  one  was  to  become  him- 
self a  capitalist,  for  "  Capital  is  the  result  of  Labour 
and  Abstinence." 

There  is  a  sentence  in  Levy's  "  Outcome  of 
Individualism  "  which  well  sums  up  the  conditions 
at  New  Australia:  "A  brief  but  brilliant  span  of 
existence  may  be  attained  by  a  Socialistic  State 
living  on  the  capital  of  its  predecessors ;  but  it  soon 
runs  through  this  capital  and  goes  out  like  a  sjDent 


212  BLACK  TIME  AT  NEW  AUSTRALIA 

squib  and  leaves  a  nasty  smell."  The  "  nasty- 
smell  "  at  New  Australia  took  the  form  of  rancour 
and  bitterness  of  spirit,  so  that  many  families  were 
not  on  speaking  terms  with  their  nearest  neighbour 
— not  that  anyone  had  time  or  inclination  in 
those  terrible  days  for  sociabilities.  Women,  whose 
husbands  were  away  earning  wages,  worked  like 
niggers  in  the  cornfields  for  themselves  and  for 
their  children.  The  sternest  Individualism  now 
prevailed,  for,  when  all  were  on  the  verge  of 
starvation,  no  man  would  share  his  children's  bread 
with  the  work-shirkers.  There  was  no  longer  any 
talk  of  an  eight  hour  day,  or  of  Trade  Union 
regulations  as  to  what  particular  task  a  given 
individual  might  perform.  From  sunrise  to  sunset 
men,  women,  and  even  children  worked  at  whatever 
task  came  first  to  hand,  unheeding  the  rays  of  the 
tropical  sun.  Even  the  coming  of  night  did  not  see 
the  cessation  of  their  labours,  when  the  moon's 
bright  light  illuminated  the  cornfields.  In  an  incred- 
ibly short  space  of  time  houses  shot  up,  surrounded 
by  well-tilled  kitchen  gardens,  carefully  fenced  in 
to  keep  men  or  brutes  from  damaging  the  crops, 
and  very  soon  the  grass  lands  were  once  more  dotted 
with  cattle — cheap,  sorry  beasts  some  of  them,  but 
precious  beyond  all  reckoning  for  the  sake  of  the 
regained  joy  of  ownership  which  they  personified. 
It  was  not  long,  moreover,  before  the  self-banished 
fathers  and  husbands  were  able  to  return  with 
money  in  their  pockets  and  restored  hopefulness. 

Some  used  the  money  thus  earned  to  convey 
themselves  and  their  dear  ones  back  to  Australia, 
others  determined  to  make  the  most  of  the  country's 


RAPID   PROGRESS  213 

natural  advantaefes,  and  to  combine  the  rearing  of 
cattle  with  lumbering  operations  or  store-keeping. 
On  these  lines  rapid  progress  was  made,  and,  within 
a  few  years,  many  of  the  130  colonists  who  remained 
at  New  Australia  possessed  from  100  to  600  head  of 
cattle  and  horses,  to  say  nothing  of  pigs,  poultry, 
etc.,  and  in  addition  grew  a  great  deal  of  fruit, 
vegetables,  and  maize  (for  the  last  of  which,  as  also 
for  all  kinds  of  live-stock,  there  was  always  a  good 
market). 

It  must  not  be  imagined,  of  course,  that  every 
colonist  was  equally  successful.  Nature  does  not 
discount  the  intelligent  industry  of  the  energetic,  or 
supplement  the  efforts  of  the  idle,  incompetent,  or 
stupid,  in  order  to  level  things  down  "  without 
regard  to  sex,  age,  office,  or  physical  or  mental 
capacity."  But  even  the  laziest  were  compelled  by 
necessity  to  do  infinitely  more  for  themselves  than 
they  ever  did  under  Socialism,  while  the  indus- 
trious were  encouraged  by  that  self-interest  which 
is  so  essential  to  progress,  by  means  of  forethought, 
thrift,  and  diligence,  to  put  by  for  their  old  age 
and  lay  the  foundations  of  prosperity  for  their 
children. 

It  would  be  pleasant  to  record  that  the  instant 
change  for  the  better  at  New  Australia  was  spiritual 
as  well  as  physical.  But  unfortunately  that  was 
not  so — for  many  years  at  least.  The  hatreds 
which  had  sprung  up  during  the  period  of  Socialist 
rule  left  deep  feuds  which  it  took  a  long  time  to 
heal,  and  the  mutual  jealousies  were  so  bitter  that 
even  the  children,  who  lived  at  the  villages  of  Los 
Amigos,  or  Loma  Rugua,  were  hardly  on  speaking 
terms  with  those  of  Las  Ovejas  or  Tuyu.  Worse 
o 


214  BLACK  TIME  AT  NEW  AUSTRALIA 

than  that,  such  bitterness  had  arisen  in  some  cases 
between  members  of  the  same  family  that  father 
and  son  who  lived  on  adjacent  blocks  forbade  one 
another  to  cross  the  dividing  fence.  Moreover 
everyone's  energies  were  now  concentrated  to  such 
an  extent  upon  the  anxious  desire  to  repair  the  ruin 
of  their  fortunes  that  nobody  worried  about  such  a 
matter  as  the  need  for  educating  the  children.  In 
consequence  lads  and  lasses  grew  up  in  total  ignor- 
ance, except  for  those  few  who  attended  a  native 
school  and  acquired  Indian  habits  of  thought 
together  with  the  Guarani  tongue. 

Nor  was  such  a  state  of  things  wholly  accidental, 
for  there  were  loud-voiced  men  upon  the  colony 
who  claimed  that  education  was  in  itself  an  evil, 
while  many  held  as  the  fundamental  article  of  their 
belief  that  religion  was  the  curse  of  the  world.  In 
consequence,  when  Bishop  Every  (Anglican  Bishop 
in  the  Argentine)  took  a  long  and  wearisome 
journey  for  the  purpose  of  visiting  the  colonists, 
he  was  not  permitted  to  hold  Divine  Service.  Some 
of  the  settlers,  however,  approached  him  privately 
and  begged  him  to  send  a  schoolmaster  to  New 
Australia.  Naturally,  the  Bishop  could  not  use 
Church  funds  to  pay  the  stipend  of  a  man  who 
would  not  be  allowed  to  mention  religion  to  his 
charges,  but  he  stated  the  case  in  England,  and  a 
young  Cambridge  man  (who  was  ordered  abroad 
for  the  benefit  of  his  health)  volunteered  to  go  out 
at  his  own  expense  and  do  what  he  could  for  the 
children.  It  will  not  be  without  interest,  perhaps,  to 
a  certain  number  of  readers,  to  follow  the  youthful 
pedagogue  to  Paraguay  and  see  how  he  fared  at 
New  Australia. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

NEW  AUSTRALIA  AND  COSME  TO-DAY. 

It  was  the  month  of  March,  1904,  when  the  School- 
master arrived  at  New  Austraha.  By  correspond- 
ence it   had  been   arranged   that   he  should  board 

with  the  T family,  at   La  Novia.     His  first 

view  of  this,  one  of  the  earliest  village  settlements, 
was  extremely  depressing.  Situated  on  a  clearing 
just  within  the  forest,  it  still  consisted  of  the 
original,  roughly-built  mud  huts,  which  the 
pioneers  had  thrown  up  nearly  eleven  years  before. 
In  all  there  were  five  half-ruined  houses,  in  such 
bad  condition  that  it  was  necessary  to  re-dress  the 
walls  with  thick  coatings  of  mud  several  times  a 
year  to  keep  them  from  tumbling  down.  Interest- 
ing illustration  of  the  value  of  work  done  "by  all 
for  all  "  was  forthcoming  on  close  examination  of 
the  material  used  in  the  construction  of  some  of 
these  houses.  Much  of  the  wood  used  was  soft  and 
unsuitable  for  the  work,  but  easier  to  handle  than 
the  hard  woods.  The  floors  were  still  of  mud  or 
ant-bed,  although  good  timber  was  abundant,  and 
the  rough  walls  of  red  "pug"  were  not  even 
smoothed  inside.  Though  so  many  years  had 
passed  since  they  were  first  built,  some  of  them  were 
still  without  any  verandah  to  keep  the  torrential 
rains  from  washing  away  the  walls.  Neither  fire- 
place nor  windows  were  provided  (pivoted  wooden 

215 


2i6  NEW   AUSTRALIA   TO-DAY 

shutters  served  to  exclude  the  cold)  and  the  draught- 
admitting  gaps,  between  roof  and  walls,  made  it 
impossible  to  keep  a  lamp  alight  when  the  wind 
blew. 

The  house  in  which  it  was  arranged  that  the 
Schoolmaster  should  board  contained  three  rooms, 
and  a  low  lean-to  in  which  the  colonist's  three  sons 
slept.  Originally  it  had  consisted  of  two  rooms 
separated  by  a  "  galpone  "  (a  covered  space  open 
on  two  sides),  but  the  latter  had  been  boarded  in 
with  pieces  of  packing  case,  etc.,  to  form  a  living 
room.  The  kitchen  was  a  separate  outbuilding. 
As  if  the  house  were  not  sufficiently  overcrowded 

the  T children  kept  an  amazing  number  of 

pets,  which  wandered  in  and  out  of  the  house  as 
they  chose.  In  addition  to  the  dogs,  of  which  four 
lived  principally  indoors,  there  were  a  tame  owl, 
several  pigs,  which  had  to  be  forcibly  ejected  at 
meal  times,  and  a  miscellaneous  collection  of  fowls, 
wandering  where  they  pleased  and  even  roosting  in 
the  bedrooms.  The  average  Irish  hut  v^-ould  com- 
pare more  than  favourably  with  the  T home- 
stead. 

It  must  not  be  supposed,  however,  that  all  the 
homes  at  New  Australia  were  of  this  type.  After 
the  abolition  of  Socialism  it  became  worth  while  for 
any  individual  who  prized  hygiene  and  comfort  to 
erect  better  accommodation  for  his  family.  After 
leaving  La  Novia,  the  next  village  settlement, 
reached  by  a  rough  track  cut  through  the  forest, 
was  Tuvu  Rugua,  a  big  clearing  on  the  edge  of 
the  open  plain,  well  enclosed  with  strong  fencing, 
with  two  very  large  paddocks  stretching  down  into 


AN   INDUSTRIOUS   FAMILY  217 

the  low-lying  land  towards  the  river.  At  the  time 
of  the  disruption,  when  each  colonist  chose  his 
favourite   site   on   which   to   settle   and   build,    the 

K contingent,  consisting  of  old  Mr.  K 

— the  father  of  the  colony— and  his  five  sons,  took 
up  their  allotments  all  together,  each  allotment 
consisting  partly  of  camp  and  partly  of  monte,  in 
the  proportion  settled  by  the  rules  governing  New 
Australia.  Thus  they  monopolised  all  the  frontage 
to  the  camp  at  that  point,  and  no  room  was  left  for 
anyone  else  to  settle  there.      In   consequence  the 

K s  jointly  possessed  quite  a  large  domain, 

which  they  had  turned  into  a  valuable  property  by 
assiduous  labour.  Their  well-built  homes  were  a 
standing  reproach  to  those  lazy  individuals  who 
were  still  content  to  live  in  squalor. 

In  the  first  house  lived  old  Mr.  and  Mrs.  K 

with  two  adult  sons.  In  addition  to  owning  cattle, 
and  engaging  in  agriculture,  they  kept  a  store  and 
traded  in  timber  with  the  merchants  of  Villa  Rica 
and   Caballero.       Through    the   slip-rails  was   the 

home  of  Alf.  K ,  an  industrious  cattle  farmer. 

The  walls  of  his  house,  built  after  the  'split'  by 
himself,  almost  unaided,  were  fortified  by  stout 
planks  of  cedar  and  hard-wood,  felled  in  the  forest 
and  sawn  with  infinite  labour.  A  double  verandah 
protected  the  outside  walls,  and  the  interior,  with 
its  cooking-range,  its  smooth  walls  artistically 
tinted,  its  serviceable  furniture  and  well-constructed 
floor  was  as  comfortable  as  an  English  villa.  The 
well-dressed  children  played  happily  upon  the  big 
lawn  surrounding  the  house  and  took  a  keen  interest 
in  their  flower  garden.     The  builder  of  this  happy 


2i8  NEW    AUSTRALIA   TO-DAY 

home  who,  by  sheer  hard  work,  had  regained 
prosperity,  offered  the  Schoolmaster  a  warm 
welcome  and  promised  to  send  his  three  children 
for  tuition. 

So  the  Schoolmaster  rode  on,  across  open  camp, 
through  bog  and  forest,  visiting  every  house  in  this 
scattered  community,  and  hearing  many  amazing 
theories  of  life.  "You  think  we're  a  lot  of  cranks," 
said  one  man.  "  Well,  of  course  we  are,  or  we 
shouldn't  be  here.  We  came  to  Paraguay  to  get 
away  from  convention,  and  be  as  cranky  as  we 
please.  If  you're  a  crank  too  we're  delighted  to 
welcome  you,  but  if  you  are  a  missionary,  whose 
object  is  to  teach  our  children  all  the  old  conven- 
tional lies,  that  we  have  run  away  from,  you  will 
find  the  colony  an  unhealthy  place  to  live  in." 
This  man's  remark  was  a  frank  statement  of  the 
general  feeling.  The  New  Australians  had  set  out 
to  teach  the  world  a  lesson  ;  and  many  of  them 
resented  the  suggestion  that  an  outsider  could 
instruct  them  or  their  children  in  anything.  On  the 
whole,  however,  the  Schoolmaster  was  well  received, 
chiefly  perhaps  because  he  was  a  good  listener  and 
took  an  interest  in  each  rival  scheme  propounded 
for  the  readjustment  of  the  universe. 

That  night  the  Schoolmaster  slept  at  a  tiny  cabin 
on  the  extreme  boundary  of  the  colony,  and  next 
morning  started  on  his  return  trip  by  a  different 
route,  so  as  to  take  in  Loma  Rugua  and  Los 
Amigos,  thus  making  a  complete  circuit  of  New- 
Australia.  Notwithstanding  the  conviction  ex- 
pressed by  many  colonists  that  he  would  not  remain 
with  them  more  than  a  few  weeks,  the  Schoolmaster 


A   STORMY  SCENE  219 

felt  quite  hopeful,  and  asked  the  Administrator  to 
call  a  general  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  discussing 
plans  for  the  establishment  of  a  school.  Messages 
were  sent  accordingly  to  all  the  stores,  fixing  a  date 
for  the  meeting,  and  the  Schoolmaster  employed  a 
couple  of  "handy-men"  to  knock  together  some 
rough  forms  and  desks. 

On  the  day  appointed  for  the  general  meeting 
every  colonist  who  could  find  a  horse  rode  over  10 
Las  Ovejas.  The  Schoolmaster,  though  already 
assured  of  considerable  support  from  the  Los 
Amigos,  La  Novia,  and  Tuyu  Rugua  contingents, 
anticipated  a  stormy  scene,  and  in  this  he  was  not 
disappointed.  Most  of  the  assembled  citizens 
proved  to  be  stern-browed,  bearded  men,  with  faces 
tanned  to  the  colour  of  mahogany  from  constant 
exposure ;  they  were  dressed  in  the  usual  costume — 
riding  boots,  baggy  trousers,  and  rough  shirt, 
loose  at  the  neck — and  most  carried  revolvers  and 
sheath  knives;  some  had  long  machetes*  secured 
to  their  saddles,  while  one  or  two  even  carried  rifles. 
It  looked  more  like  a  Council  of  War  than  a  peace- 
ful assembly  ;  but  everyone's  intentions  were  harm- 
less enough.  It  is  the  usual  thing  to  wear  revolver 
and  sheath  knife  on  all  occasions  in  the  Paraguayan 
bush  country,  and  a  machete  is  constantly  required, 
in  riding  through  narrow  forest  tracks,  to  cut  away 
any  vines  and  tangled  scrub  which  impede  the 
way.  Those  with  guns  or  rifles  were  the  sportsmen 
of  the  community,  who  hoped  to  carry  home  venison 
or  wild  game  to  the  family  larder. 

As  this  was  the  first  occasion  on  which  many  of 
*The  machete  resembles  a  sword  without  any  crosspiece. 


220  NEW   AUSTRALIA   TO-DAY 

the  men  had  met  for  five  years,  or  more,  it  was  only 
to  be  expected  that  old,  half-forgotten  feuds  should 
be  revived.  Certain  rival  politicians,  who  had 
argued  against  each  other  in  the  early  days  of  the 
colony,  took  the  opportunity  to  display  again  the 
rancour  of  party  feeling.  It  was  sufficient  for  any 
one  man  to  make  a  proposal  to  produce  a  storm  of 
objections  from  old  foemen  on  the  instant.  In  fact, 
after  a  time,  there  were  almost  as  many  counsels  as 
there  were  people  present — many  insisting  that  a 
"gentleman"  from  England,  "who  had  never  done 
a  fair  day's  work  in  his  life,"  had  no  right  at  New 
Australia  at  all,  and,  least  of  all,  the  right  to  set  up 
a  school  in  which  to  teach  Capitalistic  notions  to  the 
rising  generation. 

Nevertheless,  when  the  Schoolmaster  rose  to 
speak  he  was  given  a  fair  hearing.  Taking  his  cue 
from  their  own  profession  of  equality,  he  claimed 
that  he  had  as  much  right  as  any  other  person  to 
settle  at  New  Australia.  Next,  he  argued  that  it 
would  be  an  unwarrantable  interference  with  private 
liberty  if  the  majority  refused  to  allow  any  settler 
who  chose  to  open  a  school  if  he  w-ere  so  disposed, 
or  if  any  other  settlers  were  prohibited  from  sending 
their  children  to  school  if  they  so  desired.  Though 
there  were  some  who  hotly  contested  the  claim 
(a  few  on  the  ground  that  "book-learning"  was  in 
itself  an  evil),  its  justice  was  finally  admitted,  and 
the  Schoolmaster  gained  his  first  point,  though  only 
on  condition  that  religious  instruction  should  be 
excluded  from  the  curriculum.  So  much  conceded, 
the  Schoolmaster  then  entered  upon  a  fresh  argu- 
ment, in  favour  of  holding  a  Sunday  School,  quite 


SCHOOL   TEACHING   BEGINS        221 

independent  of  the  Day  School,  which  at  once 
aroused  a  storm  of  opposition. 

It  was  liardly  surprising,  considering  that  they 
honestly  beheved  with  Mr.  Blatchford  that  the  Chris- 
tian religion  was  false  and  an  obstacle  to  progress, 
that  many  desired  to  see  it  still  excluded  from  New 
Australia.  It  was  just  at  that  time  that  "Nunquam's" 
popular  assault  upon  religion  :  "  God  and  my 
Neighbour  "  was  published,  and  it  nowhere  met 
with  a  warmer  welcome  than  at  New  Australia.  It 
was  only  logical,  therefore,  for  some  convinced 
atheists  to  assert  that  they  "would  run  the  School- 
master off  the  Colony  if  he  got  trying  to  introduce 
religion."  Nevertheless,  the  Schoolmaster  secured 
a  majority  in  favour  of  permitting  him  to  hold 
Sunday  School,  after  a  long  and  exhausting  debate, 
to  which  the  Administrator  Gontributed  the  common- 
sense  remark  that  any  parents  who  did  not  want 
their  children  taught  religion  could  keep  them 
away  on  Sundays. 

Thus  school  teaching  commenced  at  New 
Australia,  and  soon  there  were  fifteen  (shortly 
increased  to  twenty-six)  children  in  attendance, 
many  of  whom  had  to  ride  or  walk  great  distances 
to  reach  the  school-house.*  Having  spent  their 
days  hitherto  in  running  wild  upon  the  camps,  or 
in  the  forest,  as  unaccustomed  to  discipline  and 
restraint  as  the  birds  of  the  air,  it  was  very  difficult 
at  first  for  the  children  to  sit  still  in  class,  and  the 
Schoolmaster     had     to     resort     to     unaccustomed 

*  Later  the  Schoolmaster  ran  two  schools,  at  Las  Ovejas  and 
La  Novia  respectively,  at  which  he  taught  on  alternate  days,  some 
children  attending  both  schools. 


222  NEW   AUSTRALIA   TO-DAY 

methods  of  teaching  to  retain  their  attention.  It 
was  singularly  interesting  to  note  the  wonderfully 
rapid  progress  made  by  many  of  the  hitherto 
untutored  lads  and  lasses,  who  literally  lapped  up 
knowledge,  with  an  avidity  wholly  unlike  the  indif- 
ference to  learning  displayed  by  most  more  happily 
circumstanced  children.  The  deplorable  state  of 
disunion  which  had  so  long  prevailed  at  New 
Australia  was  demonstrated  by  the  fact  that  children 
from  different  parts  of  the  settlement  at  first  formed 
hostile  cliques.  Thus,  the  Los  Amigos  children 
had  little  in  common  with  those  from  Tuyu,  and  it 
was  very  difficult  to  induce  them  to  play  together. 
All  such  artificial  distinctions  soon  disappeared 
however,  and  it  became  evident  that  the  school 
would  have  a  powerful  effect  in  the  healing  of  old 
feuds. 

The  following  true  incident  illustrates  the  dis- 
tinctly primitive  notions  entertained  by  some  of  the 
children. 

As  the  water  in  the  school-house  well  was 
rather  bad,  the  Schoolmaster  was  in  the  habit  of 
sending  one  boy,  or  two  girls,  with  a  bucket  to  bring 
good  cool  water  from  a  spring  bubbling  up  just 
inside  the  forest.  Whenever  the  Schoolmaster 
fetched  this  water  himself  it  was  particularly  clear 
and  bright,  but  w'hen  the  children  brought  it  it  was 
often  quite  muddy.  One  day  the  Schoolmaster  had 
sent  two  girls  to  fill  the  bucket  in  the  usual  way, 
but  started  after  them  to  show  them  how  to  draw  it 
without  stirring  up  the  bottom.  The  mystery  was 
explained  when  the  Schoolmaster  reached  the  monte 
and  found,  resting  upon  the  empty  bucket,  a  small 


c 
o 

a 


S 


o 


o 


G 

<u 


5 
15 


3 

2 


o 

-T. 


EARNEST   YOUNG   MEN  223 

heap  of  clothes,  and  the  two  girls  having  a  glorious 
bathe  in  the  spring.  They  were  quite  surprised 
when  he  remonstrated  with  them. 

"  You  mustn't  bathe  in  my  drinking  water,  you 
know,"  he  told  them.  "That  is  ver3^  dirty.  I 
don't  like  to  drink  water  that  you  have  bathed  in." 

"Oh,  but  sir,"  they  exclaimed  together,  "we 
don't  use  soap  !" 

Finding  that  his  spring  was  the  regular  bathing 
place  for  those  little  girls,  the  Schoolmaster  had  a 
large  pit  dug  beside  it,  and  arranged  that  the  over- 
flow from  the  spring  should  run  into  it,  so  that  in 
future  they  might  have  their  bathe,  and  he  his 
water,  without  mutual  interference. 

Within  a  short  time  the  Schoolmaster  added  to 
his  other  duties  a  night-school,  which  a  number  of 
young  men  attended  on  three  evenings  a  week  with 
great  earnestness.  By  way  of  a  return  for  his 
services,  they  good-naturedly  consented  to  attend 
Sunday  school  also,  and,  in  a  short  time,  it  became 
a  commonplace  to  hear  them  singing  English 
hymns  to  the  accompaniment  of  guitar  or  concertina 
when  the  day's  work  was  done,  not  from  any 
devotional  motive,  but  because  they  knew  no  other 
English  songs.  Another  result  of  the  Sunday 
school  was  that  children  would  take  their  hymn 
books  home,  and  plague  their  parents  to  assist 
them  in  committing  to  memory  next  Sunday's 
hymns  (since  they  could  not  yet  read).  In  conse- 
quence, the  mothers  were  re-familiarised  with  the 
old  words  they  had  themselves  learned  in  their 
childhood's  days  in  Australia  or  Great  Britain. 
With    little    persuasion    they   began   to  drop    in   at 


224  NEW  AUSTRALIA  TO-DAY 

Sunday  school  to  hear  the  children  singings,  and  so, 
imperceptibly  almost,  the  proceedings  changed  to  a 
regular  Service,  attended  by  adults  as  well  as 
children.*  The  arrival  from  England  of  a  portable 
harmonium  was  signalised  by  the  establishment  of 
a  regular  choir  night.  Within  a  short  time,  in  fact, 
Divine  Service  on  Sunday  became  a  favourite  insti- 
tution at  New  Australia,  which  people  rode  long 
distances  to  attend,  bringing  provision  for  an  al 
fresco  picnic  under  the  school  verandah  or  in  the 
shade  of  an  orange  grove. 

Quite  apart  from  their  religious  significance,  it 
would  be  hard  to  exaggerate  the  goold  effect  upon 
the  general  tone  of  the  colony  of  those  weekly  re- 
unions, which  worked  wonders  in  the  patching  up 
of  differences,  and  the  renewing  of  old  friendships. 
At  the  same  time  they  promoted  the  growth  of  a 
healthy  public  opinion,  which  went  a  long  way 
towards  checking  intemperance  and  other  abuses 
that  had  become  too  common  on  the  settlement. 
By  a  coincidence  the  admission  of  the  Deity  to  New 
Australia  synchronised  with  a  remarkable  improve- 
ment in  material  prosperity  and  general  progress. 
Official  proof  of  this  fact  may  be  found  in  the 
Report  of  the  British  Consul  for  Paraguay,  for  the 
year  1908.  Under  the  heading  "New  Australia," 
Mr.  Consul  Griffith  reports  as  follows  : 

"  The  following  data  are  taken  from  an  interest- 
ing report  which  has  been  furnished  to  me  by  the 
Manager  of  the  colony,  Mr.  Kennedy.  The 
colonists   number    161  :    86  adults  and  75   minors, 

*  At   another   General   Meeting,   held   some  months   later,   per- 
mission to  give  daily  religious  instruction  was  cheerfully  conceded. 


THE  CONSUL'S   REPORT  225 

and  they  are,  with  few  exceptions,  all  British 
subjects — Australians,  English,  Irish,  and  Scotch. 
The  colony,  which  is  agricultural  and  pastoral,  is 
said  to  be  prospering  slowly  but  surely,  but  no 
marked  progress  can  be  expected  until  the  means  of 
communication  are  improved,  as  the  lands  are  thirty 
miles  distant  from  a  railway  or  river,  and,  conse- 
quently, being  unable  to  market  their  produce,  the 
colonists  confine  their  cultivation  to  the  growing  of 
food-stuffs,  fruits,  and  vegetables  for  their  own 
consumption.  Cattle  and  horses  do  well  on  the 
grazing  lands  of  the  colony,  and  to  these  the 
colonists  have,  at  present,  to  look  for  an  income. 
Notwithstanding  the  lack  of  communication  and 
consequent  heavy  cost  of  transport,  a  man  with  a 
family  can  cultivate  tobacco  with  advantage.  Maize, 
cassava,  many  varieties  of  beans,  sweet  potatoes, 
sugar-cane,  bananas,  oranges,  and  peaches  are 
successfully  cultivated,  and  experiments  which  have 
been  made  with  the  yerba  tree  appear  to  be  giving 
good  results.  The  colony  possesses  a  well-equipped 
steam  saw  mill,  five  stores,  a  small  petit  grain 
distillery,  and  two  caha  (rum)  stills."* 

Thus  the  stalwarts  who  remained  after  the  collapse 
of  William  Lane's  wild  venture  have  made  a 
gallant  fight  back  to  prosperity,  and  have  disproved 
the  allegation  that  it  was  the  nature  of  the  country, 
rather  than  the  evils  inseparable  from  Socialism, 
which  caused  the  original  failure.  At  the  present 
day  the  prosperity  of  those  who  remain  at  New 
Australia    colony    is    steadily    increasing,    and    a 

*  Diplomatic  and  Consular  Reports,  Annual  Series,  No.  4362, 
1909. 


226  COSME   TO-DAY 

number  of  the  original  Utopians  who  were  re- 
patriated have  found  their  way  back  to  Paraguay, 
to  share  in  the  great  advantages  which  the  settle- 
ment offers  to  Anglo-Saxons  with  agricultural 
experience.  If,  as  seems  probable,  the  new  Trans- 
Paraguay  railway,  now  in  course  of  construction, 
passes  close  to  New  Australia*  the  place  is  likely  to 
experience  a  boom,  and  the  settlement  there  of  many 
hundreds  of  Australian  families  may  yet  become  a 
reality.  Already  conditions  are  vastly  different 
from  what  they  were  at  the  commencement  of  1904. 
The  children  are  now  well  cared  for,  in  all  respects, 
and  compare  well  with  those  more  happilv  circum- 
stanced in  England.  At  the  present  day,  New 
Australia  is  neither  a  Utopian  Eden  nor  a  "  hell 
upon  earth."  It  is  an  average  community  of  sane, 
sober,  hard-working,  self-respecting  farmers,  living 
at  peace  with  one  another  and  taking  for  their 
motto:  "What  we  have  we  hold!"  Never  again 
will  they  submit  their  fortunes  to  the  ruinous  rule 
of  Socialism  in  any  guise — whether  it  call  itself 
"  Christian  Socialism,"  "Atheistic  Socialism,"  or 
merely  "  Co-operative  Communism." 

As  has  been  seen,  Cosme  for  many  years  made 
no  such  progress.  Till  1904  it  endeavoured  to  keep 
itself  afloat  by  the  publication  in  its  journal  of  far- 
fetched articles  describing  the  happiness  of  its 
people,  which  induced  other  credulous  souls  to  join 
them  in  the  expectation  of  experiencing  impossible 
bliss.  Cheated  by  false  hopes,  these  newcomers 
quickly  fell  into  the  growing  quagmire  of  discontent 

*  It  was  recently  stated  in  the  Australian  press  that  the  main 
line  will  cut  right  through  it. 


COSME   ABANDONS   SOCIALIS^I      227 

and   misery.      Things    became   worse   every    year; 
the  original  glamour  faded,  and  men's  hearts  hard- 
ened  as  they    had  done  at  New   Australia.      The 
feeling  of  bitterness  against  those  who  were  sick 
and  unable  to  work,  and  against  widows,  and  people 
with  large  families  parasitically  dependent  upon  the 
exertions  of  the  adult  able-bodied,  was  the  saddest 
feature  of  the  place.     It  often  happened  that  a  man, 
who  was  seriously  ill,  would  stagger  to  his  work 
when  he  should  have  been  lying  up,  for  fear  of  the 
boycotting  which  came  to  be  systematically  practised 
towards  any  who  failed  to  do  their  allotted  day's 
task.     Rather  than  work  for  the  benefit  of  "all" 
any    longer,    many   of   the    bachelors   withdrew   to 
Sapucay,  and  obtained  employment  at  the  engineer- 
ing   works    of    the     Paraguay    Central     Railway. 
Married    men,    with    families    of    young    children, 
remained  tied  to   the  spot,   hopelessly   striving   to 
make  headway  against  the   dead-weight  of  debt — 
for  everything  was   mortgaged — which   bore  them 
down. 

Eventually,  as  at  New  Australia,  the  Government 
stepped  in,  withdrew  the  original  grant,  and  divided 
the  Cosme  settlement  up,  on  the  usual  colonisation 
terms,  each  family  being  allotted  so  much  agricul- 
tural and  so  much  grazing  land.  "The  Cosme 
Colony  has  now  definitely  thrown  its  dreams  over- 
board," wrote  a  correspondent  to  an  Australian 
journal.  "  For  several  years  before  it  abandoned 
the  original  principles,  it  was  an  open  secret 
(scarcely  even  concealed  by  the  interested  parties) 
that  the  few  remaining  members  were  held  together 
only  by  the  expectation  of  the  final  break-up,  when 


228  COSME  TO-DAY 

the  property  would  be  divided,  and  the  fewer  that 
remained  the  greater  individual  share  would  accrue 
to  each."  Thus,  after  wasting  the  best  part  of  their 
lives  in  hopeless  experiments,  the  Cosmans  were 
given  a  new  lease  of  life  and  they,  too,  began  to 
make  some  progress  towards  prosperity.  As  at 
New  Australia,  a  schoolmaster,  appointed  by 
Bishop  Every,  now  instructs  the  children  and  holds 
religious  services. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

RELIGION— MORALITY— SUICIDE. 

Continental  Socialism  is  frankly  Atheistic,  but  in 
English-speaking  countries  the  existence  of  that 
"  curious  hybrid,"  the  Christian  Socialist,  obscures 
the  issue  and  makes  it  appear  to  some  that  there  is 
nothing  necessarily  antagonistic  between  Socialism 
and  Christianity.  The  whole  question  is  too  wide 
a  one  to  be  thrashed  out  here,  though  the  reader 
may  be  reminded  of  Professor  Flint's*  observation 
that  that  portion  of  the  Christian  Socialists'  teach- 
ing which  is  definitely  Christian  is  not  Socialistic, 
while  that  portion  which  is  definitely  Socialistic  is 
not  Christian.  An  ardent  Christian  and  Social 
Reformer,  carried  away  by  admiration  for  some 
portion  of  the  Socialist  programme  which  coincides 
with  his  own  views  on  Social  reform,  is  frequently 
described  by  himself  as  a  Christian  Socialist, 
although  he  w^ould  repudiate  with  horror  the  views 
of  any  eminent  Socialist  on  the  subject  of 
Christianity. 

The  logical  attitude  of  the  genuine  Socialist 
toward  Christian  Socialism  is  well  shown  in  the 
following  reference  :  "  Socialism  is  the  natural 
enemy  of  religion.  A  Christian  Socialist  is  an 
Anti-Socialist,  No  man  can  consistently  be  both  a 
Christian  and  a  Socialist." 

The  fundamental  difference  between  Socialism 
and  Christianity  has  been  well  summed  up  in 
"Ethics    of    Socialism,"     by    Mr.    Belfort     Bax : 

'"Socialism." 

P  229 


230    RELIGION— MORALITY— SUICIDE 

"According  to  Christianity  regeneration  must  come 
from  within.  The  ethics  and  rehgion  of  modern 
Socialism,  on  the  contrary,  look  for  regeneration 
from  without,  from  material  conditions  and  a  higher 
social  life."  Again,  in  his  "Religion  of  Socialism," 
the  same  w-riter  explains  :  "In  what  sense  Socialism 
is  not  religious  will  be  now  clear.  It  utterly  des- 
pises the  '  other  world '  with  all  its  stage  properties 
— that  is,  the  present  objects  of  religion." 

Since  this  work  is  intended  for  general  circulation 
the  writer  refrains  from  quoting  any  of  the  more 
crudely  offensive  references  to  Christianity  in 
which  leading  Socialists  delight.  The  sales  depart- 
ment of  the  Clarion  Press,  44,  Worship  Street, 
E.C.,  or  of  the  Independent  Labour  Party,  St. 
Bride's  House,  Salisbury  Square,  E.C.,  will 
courteously  inform  the  reader  who  desires  to 
follow  the  matter  further  where  he  can  obtain 
authoritative  literature  for  a  very  small  outlay.  As 
Mr.  Robert  Blatchford  ("Nunquam"  of  the  C/arzon), 
author  of  "Merrie  England,"  is  the  Socialist  writer 
with  most  influence  and  the  widest  circulation,  the 
adult  English  reader,  whose  own  faith  is  firmly 
implanted,  and  who  wishes  to  understand  the 
Socialist  attitude  towards  religion,  cannot  do  better 
than  procure  his  book,  "  God  and  my  Neighbour," 
which  has  run  through  fourteen  editions.  That 
book  concludes  with  the  words,  "Let  the  Holy  have 
their  Heaven.  I  am  a  man  and  an  Infidel.  .  .  . 
Christianity  is  not  true.'" 

Lest  it  should  be  argued  that  it  is  a  mere  coincid- 
ence that  Mr.  Blatchford,  the  Socialist,  should  also 
be  an  opponent  of  religion,  it  is  worth  while  quoting 


A   SOCIALIST   HYMN  231 

Mr.  Blatchford's  own  reason  for  "going  out  of  his 
way  to  attack  religion." 

"  In  reply,  I  beg  to  state,"  he  asserts,  "(i)  that 
I  have  not  'gone  out  of  my  way  '  to  attack  religion. 
It  was  because  I  found  religion  in  my  way  that  I 
attacked  it.  (2)  That  I  am  working  for  Socialism 
when  I  attack  a  religion  which  is  hindering 
Socialism.  (3)  That  we  must  pull  down  before  we 
can  build  up,  and  that  I  hope  to  do  a  little  building 
if  only  on  the  foundation."* 

It  is  because  Socialists  see  that  Socialism  cannot 
finally  triumph  until  religion  loses  its  hold  upon 
the  people  that  Socialist  Sunday  schools  have  been 
established,  to  inculcate  the  class  war,  in  place  of 
'  peace  on  earth,  good-will  among  men,'  from 
infancy.  Instead  of  hearing  the  gentle  words  of 
Him  who  said,  "Let  the  little  ones  come  unto  Me 
and  forbid  them  not,"  the  tiny  mites  who  attend 
those  places  are  taught  to  lisp  : 

"  Who  is  from  aye  a  slave 

To  all  the  tyrant  brood  ? 
Who  oft  for  them  must  fight  ? 

And  for  them  shed  his  blood  ? — 
O  folk  !    has  thou  not  yet  perceived, 

'Tis  thou  that  ever  art  deceived  ! 
Awake,  ye  men  who  toil  ! 

Up,   Proletariat  ! 
Awake  ye  men,  ye  men  who  toil  ! 

Up,   Proletariat  !"t 

*"God  and  my  Neighbour,"  p.  190. 

t  The  Socialist  Sunday  School  Hymn  Book,  Hymn  43. 
Compiled  by  The  National  Council  of  British  Socialist  Sunday 
School  Unions,  1910. 


232    RELIGION— MORALITY— SUICIDE 

Modern  Socialists  have  realised  that  the  nullifica- 
tion of  religious  belief  can  be  brought  about  much 
more  easily  by  preserving  a  semblance  to  the  out- 
ward forms  of  religion  than  by  suppressing  Sunday 
observances  altogether.  If  careless  parents,  who 
let  their  children  attend  such  Sunday  schools,  feel 
any  doubts,  they  are  quite  set  at  rest  on  hearing  that 
the  Bible  is  actually  used  in  them.  How  it  is  used, 
and  what  importance  is  attached  to  its  teaching, 
appears  from  the  following  extract  from  instructions 
for  conducting  Sunday  schools  : 

22.  Lessons  for  older  children  (aged  ii  to  i3|)-* 
(i)  Stories  from  Greek  mythology,  such  as  the 

Siege  of  Troy,  etc. 

(2)  Stories  from  some  of  Shakespeare's  plays, 

such  as  The  Tempest,  etc. 

(3)  Stories  from  Tennyson,  Browning,  etc. 

(4)  Stories  from  the  chief  sacred  literatures — 

Bible,  Talmud,  "Buddhist  Birth  stories, ' ' 
etc.,  lives  of  Buddha,  Mohammed,  Con- 
fucius, etc. 

(5)  Lives  of  the  Saints,  etc. 

(6)  Stories  of  Greeks  and  Romans,  etc. 

(7)  "  Child's  Socialist  Reader,"  etc. 

(8)  Systematic  Moral  lessons,  etc. 

23.  The  Senior  Class  should  not  have  set  moral 
lessons. 

When  a  child  has  been  taught  that  a  jumble  of 
stories  from  the  Classics,   the  Vedas,  the  Koran, 

*  "  Sunday  Schools,"  by  F.  J.  Gould,  published  by  the  Socialist 
Church  Union.     Bradford,  1910. 


INCREASE  OF   SUICIDE  2, 


.v> 


etc.,  are  of  equal  importance,  in  a  religious  sense, 
with  the  Bible  narrative,  it  is  no  more  probable  that 
he  will  turn  Christian  when  he  reaches  years  of 
discretion  than  that  he  will  become  a  Mohammedan. 
The  establishment  of  a  Socialist  government  in  this 
country  would  prepare  the  way  for  Anti-Christ  in  a 
single  sreneration.  Some  effects  of  the  banishment 
of  religion  from  a  community  have  been  illustrated 
in  the  story  of  New  Australia.  One  of  the  most 
startling  of  the  phenomena  which  mark  the  spread 
of  Socialism  on  the  Continent  is  the  increase  of 
suicide,  particularly  among  young  children  and  the 
aged  (of  neither  of  whom  can  it  be  alleged  that  they 
take  their  own  lives  'for  fear  of  conscription  '). 

In  the  light  of  history,  however,  this  deplorable 
sign  of  the  times  can  hardly  be  considered  surpris- 
ing, for  a  materialist  creed  has  ever  tended  to  the 
light  holding  of  life. 

Among  the  ancients,  a  high  value  was  set  on  life 
by  those  who  maintained  the  immortality  of  the 
soul*  and  vice  versa.  In  modern  times,  while 
suicide  is  regarded  with  abhorrence  by  those  who 
hold  any  religious  belief,  materialists  advocate  a 
State-aided  system  of  "euthanasia"  for  those  who 
are  weary  of  living.  Self-destruction  was  considered 
wholly  permissible  by  Zeno,  that  Stoic  leader  who 
foreshadowed  modern  Socialism  in  his  cosmopolitan 
"  Republic,"  where  money  should  not  circulate, 
and  where  courts  of  justice,  churches,  and  family 
life  would  have  no  place.     His  disciple,  Seneca,  for 

*  "  Pythagoras  forbids  us  to  abandon  our  guard  and  post  of  life 
without  the  orders  of  our  commander,  that  is,  of  God." 

—  (yicero,  "  De  Senectute." 


234    RELIGION— MORALITY— SUICIDE 

years  before  he  died  by   his  own   hand,*  devoted 
much  anxious  thought  to  the  "way  out." 

In  precisely  the  same  way,  Paul  Lafargue,  son- 
in-law  and  disciple  of  Karl  Marx,  the  founder  of 
Modern  Socialism,  deliberately  planned  the  date  of 
his  own  extinction  ten  years  in  advance. 

The  celebrated  author  of  "Droit  a  la  Paresse"t 
devoted  himself  with  zeal,  from  the  days  of  the 
Commune  onwards,  to  the  propagation  of  Socialism 
not  only  on  the  Continent  but  in  England  also. 
When  he  committed  suicide  (in  November,  1911)  by 
means  of  prussic  acid,  hypodermically  injected,  he 
was  suffering  from  no  painful  disease,  as  his  last 
testament  shows. 

"  Sound  in  body  and  mind,"  he  declared,  "  I  am 
killing  myself  before  ruthless  old  age,  which  has 
taken  from  me  one  by  one  the  pleasures  and  joys  of 
existence,  and  has  deprived  me  of  my  physical  and 
intellectual  powers,  paralyses  my  energy,  and 
breal^s  my  will,  and  makes  me  a  burden  to  myself 
and  others. 

"  For  many  years  I  have  pledged  myself  not  to 
pass  the  threescore  years  and  ten ;  I  have  fixed  the 
time  for  my  departure  from  life,  and  I  have  prepared 
the  method  of  carrying  out  my  resolution — a  hypo- 
dermic injection  of  prussic  acid. 

"  I  die  with  the  supreme  joy  of  being  absolutely 
certain  that,  in  the  near  future,  the  cause  to  which 

*  It  is  true  that  Seneca  ultimately  committed  suicide  at  the 
invitation  of  his  ruler,  but  his  writings  clearly  show  that  he  had 
deliberately  contemplated  the  act  for  years  before  he  was  called 
upon  to  execute  it. 

t  "  The  Right  to  Laziness." 


AT  NEW  AUSTRALIA  235 

I    have    devoted    myself    for    forty-five   years    will 
triumph. 

"  Vive  le  Communisme  !  Vive  le  Socialisme 
international  ! 

Paul  Lafargue."* 

Nor  was  this  an  isolated  case,  due  to  some  personal 
eccentricity  of  Lafargue,  the  chosen  disciple  of  Karl 
Marx,  for  two  of  the  latter's  daughters,  who  were 
equally  impregnated  with  the  pure  gospel  of 
Socialism,  took  their  own  lives.  The  first  was 
Eleanor,  wife  of  Dr.  Edward  Aveling,  leading 
Socialist  and  lecturer  in  biology  at  London  L^niver- 
sitv ;  the  second  was  Laura,  wife  of  Paul  Lafargue, 
who  perished  with  him. 

This  is  not  the  place  to  embark  upon  an  elaborate 
examination  of  the  ethics  of  suicide.  The  writer 
wishes,  however,  to  emphasise  the  fact,  upon  which 
medical  authorities  are  agreed,  that  suicide  does  not 
necessarily  imply  insanity;  the  discovery  that  all 
mundane  things  are  vanity,  coupled  with  unbelief 
in  extra-mundane  compensations,  may  quite  reason- 
ably induce  a  sane,  strong-minded  Atheist  to  end 
his  profitless  existence  from  sheer  boredom.  If  this 
be  the  case,  it  is  to  be  expected  that  the  revival  of  a 
purely  pagan  outlook  on  life  will  be  accompanied 
by  public  approval  of,  and  hasty  resort  to,  the  "way 
out,"  for  the  most  trifling  of  reasons. 

The  tendency  for  suicide  to  associate  itself  with 
Socialism  was  illustrated  in  a  remarkable  manner 
at  New  Australia.  When  the  Schoolmaster  arrived 
there  in  1904  he  called  upon  A,  one  of  the  original 

♦  The  "Daily  News,"  November  28th,  1911. 


236    RELIGION— MORALITY— SUICIDE 

settlers,  a  hard-working  decent  man,  with  a  comfort- 
able house,  surrounded  by  much  evidence  of  praise- 
worthy industry.  A,  who  had  married  a  Scottish 
woman — a  seceder  from  Cosme— was  a  man  of 
considerable  intelligence,  an  extreme  Socialist,  and 
an  Atheist.  He  was  universally  liked,  especially 
by  the  children,  and  was  remarkably  gentle  in  his 
manners.  He  was,  in  fact,  quite  the  last  man  of 
whom  one  would  expect  any  violent  action.  Yet, 
next  time  the  Schoolmaster  visited  that  house,  it  was 
in  tragic  cirumstances ;  A  had  killed  his  wife  and 
taken  his  own  life.  How  little  that  poor  woman 
thought,  when  she  left  her  home  in  Scotland,  to 
experience  the  joys  of  Cosmeism,  that  this  would 
be  her  fate  ! 

Next,  there  was  B,  a  man  of  education  and  the 
kindest  and  most  generous  disposition.  In  his 
case,  fortunately,  assistance  came  in  time,  and  the 
Schoolmaster  had  the  satisfaction  of  nursing  him 
back  to  complete  recovery. 

C,  was  a  personal  friend  of  the  Schoolmaster. 
An  Englishman  of  sterling  worth,  a  veteran  who 
had  fought  many  years  before  against  the  redskins 
in  the  Western  States  of  North  America.  A 
bachelor  and  teetotaller,  C  was  so  devoted  to 
children  that  the  Schoolmaster  employed  him  as 
caretaker  and  assistant  at  the  Las  Ovejas  school, 
which  he  conducted  single-handed  during  the  rainy 
seasons,  when  the  floods  made  it  impossible  for  the 
Schoolmaster  himself  to  get  there,  from  La  Novia, 
for  a  week  or  more  at  a  time.  When  the  School- 
master returned  to  England,  towards  the  end  of 
1905,  he  continued  to  pay  a  small  salary  to  C  to 


THE   POSITION  OF  WOMAN         237 

carry  on  the  school  until  someone  else  could  take  up 
the  work.  Some  time  later  he  was  inexpressibly 
shocked  to  learn  that  C  had  died,  by  his  own  hand, 
in  tragic  circumstances. 

These  cases,  which  all  occurred  within  a  period  of 
eighteen  months,  among  a  population  of  less  than 
ninety  adults,  while  proving  nothing,  certainly  lend 
colour  to  the  theory  of  some  intimate  association 
between  suicide  and  Socialism. 

Since  the  honourable  position  of  woman  in  the 
modern  State  is  entirely  due  to  the  influence  of 
religion  upon  conduct,  accumulating  through  the 
ages,  it  is  not  surprising  to  find  Socialists  them- 
selves admitting  that  the  destruction  of  religion  will 
be  accompanied  by  the  degradation  of  womankind. 
Although  this  subject  has  been  touched  upon  in 
Chapter  V,  the  following  quotations  from  works  by 
leading  Socialists  may  be  added  : 

"  In  the  new  moral  world  the  irrational  names  of 
man  and  wife,  parent  and  child-,  will  be  heard  no 
more.  .  .  .  All  connection  will  be  the  result  of 
affection  .  .  .  (woman)  in  her  trial  will  be  comforted 
and  caressed  by  the  whole  community  .  .  .  the 
children  will  undoubtedly  be  the  property  of  the 
whole  community." — Robert  Owen. 

"  Because  we  hold  that  Socialism  will  ultimately 
survive  as  the  only  tenable  moral  code,  we  are 
convinced  that  our  present  marriage  custom  and 
present  marital  law  alike  must  soon  collapse." — 
Professor  Karl  Pearson  in  "  Socialism  and  Sex." 

"  Human  beings  must  be  in  a  position  to  act 
freely  where  their  strongest  impulse  is  concerned, 
as  in  the  case  of  any  other  natural  instinct.   .  .   . 


238    RELIGION— MORALITY— SUICIDE 

No  one  has  to  give  an  account  of  himself  or  herself, 
and  no  third  person  has  the  slightest  right  of  inter- 
vention."— Herr  Bebel  in  "Woman." 

Evidence  may  be  adduced  to  an  indefinite  extent 
to  show  that  such  ideas  are  not  confined  to  an 
extreme  set  of  writers  in  some  one  country.  They 
are  the  common  property  of  sober-minded,  well- 
living,  Socialist  thinkers  of  all  countries,  at  the 
present  moment.  Any  reader  who  doubts  the  truth 
of  this  assertion,  need  only  apply  to  any  of  the  well- 
known  Socialist  organisations  for  a  list  of  leaflets 
and  works  dealing  with  the  subject.  This  is  not  a 
topic  upon  which  the  writer  cares  to  dilate  at  any 
length  in  a  work  of  this  character.  It  may  be  stated 
however,  that,  small  though  the  community  was, 
illegitimacy  was  not  unknown  at  "  New  Australia." 

Such  a  statement  may  easily  be  met  by  an  asser- 
tion that  irreligion,  suicide,  and  loose  morals  are  by 
no  means  unusual  phenomena  in  society  as  at 
present  constituted.  True,  but  whereas,  at  present, 
such  evils  are  legislated  against,  and  to  a  great 
extent  kept  under  by  the  force  of  a  strong  public 
opinion,  under  a  Socialistic  regime  they  will  be 
deliberately  approved  and  fostered  by  the  State. 
That  is  a  distinction  which  makes  all  the  difference. 
Those  who  have  studied  at  close  quarters  the 
manners  and  customs  of  primitive  races  will  see  a 
close  correspondence  between  their  habits  and  the 
ideals  of  Socialism.  It  is  difficult  to  resist  the 
conclusion  that  State  Socialism  amounts  to  nothing 
less  than  a  hideous  form  of  State-enforced 
barbarism. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

CONCLUSION. 

Although  it  is  notoriously  dangerous  to  pro- 
phesy, the  progress  which  the  New  AustraHans 
commenced  to  make  immediately  Socialism  was 
abandoned,  irresistibly  suggests  the  query  :  Sup- 
posing a  similar  attempt  at  colonisation  had  been 
made  in  Paraguay,  by  the  same  people,  with  equal 
capital,  but  on  an  Individualistic  orsimple  co-opera- 
tive basis,  what  would  have  been  the  result  ? 

From  personal  observation  on  the  spot,  from 
careful  discussions  with  those  New  Australian 
colonists  who  have  snatched  some  measure  of 
success  from  failure,  and  from  the  opinions 
expressed  by  other  Englishmen  who  have  prospered 
exceedingly  in  Paraguay,  the  writer  has  formed  his 
own  conclusion.  It  is  his  firm  conviction  that,  if 
New  Australia  had  been  run  on  ordinary  commercial 
lines,  so  that  every  individual  was  encouraged  to 
labour  by  the  knowledge  that  he,  and  his  children, 
would  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  industry,  the  venture 
would  have  proved  an  unqualified  success.  The 
landing  in  South  America  of  a  great  body  of  sturdy 
Anglo-Saxon  colonists  might  have  done  as  much 
for  that  continent  as  the  advent  of  the  New 
Englanders  did  for  North  America.  Paraguay 
would  have  awakened  from  its  long  stagnation  and 

239 


240  CONCLUSION 

resumed  its  place  as  one  of  the  most  progressive  of 
the  sister  RepubUcs ;  the  EngHsh  bondholders  and 
others,  whose  interests  in  Paraguay  run  into 
millions,  would,  among  others,  have  reaped  the 
benefit  of  its  renewed  prosperity. 

By  this,  the  twentieth  year  of  New  Australia's 
existence,  the  territory  should  have  become  a  great 
centre  of  industry,  dotted  with  prosperous  towns, 
connected  by  railway  with  the  Brazilian  ports,  as 
well  as  with  Asuncion  and  the  Argentine.  These 
and  much  greater  things  could,  and,  in  the  writer's 
opinion  would,  have  been  achieved,  had  the  New- 
Australians  not  been  burdened  with  the  curse  of 
Socialism.  If,  instead,  patriotism  had  been  the 
animating  spirit  of  the  New  Australian  movement, 
it  thrills  the  imagination  to  project  a  vision  of  what 
might  have  been  accomplished.  But  patriotism  has 
nothing  in  common  with  Socialism. 

Mismanagement,  extravagance,  favouritism,  in- 
dolence, discontent,  heathenism,  these  are  the 
necessary  accompaniments  of  Socialism ;  while 
industry,  economy,  thrift,  independence,  self- 
respect,  and  satisfaction  are  sterling  qualities  called 
forth  by  legitimate  pride  in  individual  ownership. 
Of  this  truism  the  plain  story  of  New  Australia 
serves  as  an  excellent  illustration.  William  Lane 
set  out  to  provide  the  world  with  an  object  lesson — 
and  succeeded  in  doing  so.  But  history  shows  that 
the  world  has  rarely  profited  by  object  lessons. 
Nations,  like  individuals,  usually  insist  on  buying 
their  own  experience.  From  the  rapid  progress 
Socialism  is  making  to-day,  it  seems  probable  that 
there  are  those   now  living  who  will   see  modern 


REAL  TRAGEDY  241 

civilisation  reduced  to  chaos  bv  it.  The  sordid 
drama  rehearsed,  on  a  tiny  stage,  at  New  Austraha 
and  Cosme,  may  soon  be  played  on  a  vast  scale  with 
the  whole  world  for  a  theatre.  When  that  day 
comes  it  will  be  tragedy  indeed  ! 


The  End. 


APPENDIX   A. 


Political  platform  of  the  A.  L.  F.  issued  after 

THE  collapse  OF  THE  MARITIME  STRIKE  OF  189O. 

'  The  general  Council  of  the  Australian  Labour 
Federation  recommends  to  its  various  districts  the 
consideration  of  such  political  action  as  is  demanded 
by  the  increasing  intelligence  of  the  age,  and  the 
desire  for  social  justice  which  now  moves  the 
workers  of  the  world, 

'  Federated  political  action  is  a  force,  the  potency 
of  which,  if  rightly  appreciated,  is  second  only  to 
federated  social  action.  All  forces  must  be  availed 
of,  if  it  is  the  purpose  of  the  workers  of  Australia 
to  root  out  those  social  wrongs  which  deprive  the 
workers  in  other  lands  of  all  the  happiness  of 
living,  and  already  show  themselves  in  this  so-called 
"paradise"  of  the  working-man,' 


'  This  general  Council  is  individually  and  collec- 
tively convinced,  and  believes,  as  the  vast  majority 
of  thinking  workers  are  coming  to  believe,  that 
social  misery,  poverty,  vice,  and  enmity  are  the 
natural  fruits  of  the  industrial  system  as  it  exists 
to-day,  denying  to  the  workers  the  liberty  to  work 
and  live  except  by  permission  of  a  class  which  is 

242 


APPENDIX    A  243 

permitted  to  hold  for  its  o\vn  advantage  the  means 
of  production  and  distribution,  Avithout  which  none 
can  Hve.  And  this  general  Council  is  further  con- 
vinced, and  believes,  that  by  industrial  re-organisa- 
tion, as  hereafter  proposed,  every  man  or  woman 
would  be  insured  work,  every  old  person  and 
young  person  and  sick  person  would  be  insured 
comfort,  and  every  child  born  into  the  State  would 
be  ensured  full  opportunity  to  develop  its  brain  and 
body  as  is  possible  in  our  civilisation,  did  we  only 
cease  to  compete  with  one  another. 

'Therefore  this  general  Council  recommends  and 
urges  the  unions  and  members  of  the  Federation  to 
authorise  its  executive  to  declare  that  the  present 
industrial  system,  commonly  called  the  competitive 
system,  is  destructive,  pernicious,  and  altogether 
evil  and  must  be  replaced  by  a  social  system  which 
will  not  leave  it  in  the  power  of  one  man  to  take 
advantage  of  the  necessities  or  disabilities  of 
another,  and  which  will  provide  for  all  the  workers 
opportunities  to  avail  themselves  of  the  bounties  of 
nature,  and  to  partake  fully  of  the  fruits  of  civilisa- 
tion, to  receive  the  full  benefit  of  their  share  of  the 
common  toil.' 

The  Federation's  political  aims  are  stated  thus  : 

'  I.  The  nationalisation  of  all  sources  of  wealth 
and  all  means  of  production  and  exchanging  wealth. 

'  2.  The  conducting  by  the  State  authority  of  all 
production  and  all  exchange. 

'3.  The  pensioning  by  the  Slate  authoritv  of  all 
child,  aged,  and  invalid  citizens. 

'  4.  The  saving  by  the  State  authority  of  such  pro- 
portion of  the  joint  wealth-production  as  may  be 


244  APPENDIX   A 

requisite  for  installing,  maintaining,  and  increasing 
national  capital. 

'  5.  The  maintenance  by  the  State  authority  from 
the  joint  wealth-production  of  all  education  and 
sanitary  institutions. 

*  6.  The  just  division  among  all  the  citizens  of 
the  State  of  all  wealth-production,  less  only  that 
part  retained  for  public  and  common  requirements. 

'  7.  The  re-organisation  of  society  upon  the  above 
lines  to  be  commenced  at  once,  and  pursued  uninter- 
ruptedly until  social  justice  is  fully  secured  to  each 
and  every  citizen.' 


APPENDIX  B. 


ARTICLES  OF   ASSOCIATION. 

Chapter  I. — -Name,  Object,   Duration. 
Art.  I.     The  Name  of  the  Company  is  "The  New 


»» 


AustraHa      Co-operative      Colonization      Society, 
founded  to  carry  out  the  objects  expressed  in  tiie 
following  articles. 

Art.  II.  The  object  of  the  Company  is  to  acquire 
and  pioneer  the  lands  granted  by  the  Paraguayan 
Government  in  the  Departments  of  Ajos,  Villa  Rica, 
Mbocyaty,  Caaguazu,  and  other  lands  that  may  be 
acquired  beforehand,  with  the  object  of  forming  a 
Co-operative  Colony. 

Art.  III.  The  Company  will  have  its  head  office 
or  seat  in  the  colony  Nueva  Australia,  Department 
of  Ajos,  Paraguay. 

Art.  IV.  The  duration  of  the  Society  remains 
fixed  for  twenty  years,  to  count  from  the  day  on 
which  these  statutes  are  approved  by  the  Superior 
Government.  This  term  can  be  prolonged  by  a 
general  meeting  of  shareholders  whose  members 
represent  three-quarters  of  the  total  number  of 
shares  subscribed. 

Art.  V.     The  Society  can  cease  before  the  limit 
of  duration  by  a  decision  of  a  general  meeting  called 
for  that  object,  if  sanctioned  by  a  number  of  share- 
holders representing  three-quarters  of  the  total. 
^  245 


246  APPENDIX    B 

Chapter  II. — Capital,  Shares,  and  Rights  of 
THE  Shareholders. 

Art.  VI.  The  capital  of  the  Company  is  fixed  at 
;^2o,ooo,  divided  into  2000  shares  of  ;^io  each — 
already  subscribed  and  paid,  which  shares  will  pay 
neither  interest  nor  dividend. 

Art.  VII.  Each  shareholder  will  have  the  right 
to  effect  contracts  relating  to  his  share  with  the 
approval  of  the  Directors,  and  only  according  to 
their  stipulations.  A  faithful  copy  of  any  contract 
will  be  deposited  in  the  head  office  of  the  Company, 
and  will  be  read  immediately  after  the  opening  of  a 
general  meeting  of  shareholders,  and  before  begin- 
ning to  treat  of  other  matters.  No  share  will  be 
transferred  in  the  books  of  the  Company  in  a 
manner  contrary  to  the  stipulations  of  such  contracts 
without  previous  consent  of  the  Directory.  No 
shareholder  will  be  recognised  in  any  general  meet- 
ing contrary  to  the  stipulations  of  these  contracts. 

Art.  VIII.  The  President  of  the  Company  for 
the  time  of  its  duration  will  act  as  mandatory  of  all 
the  shareholders  residing  abroad,  excepting  those 
shareholders  who  give  notice  in  writing  that  they 
have  named  another  shareholder  to  act  individually 
in  their  name.  The  shareholders  residing  abroad 
will  have  the  right  to  meet  to  examine  accounts  and 
investigate  the  business  of  the  Company,  and  can 
at  this  meeting  name  their  mandatories  to  represent 
them  in  Paraguay.  They  and  their  representatives 
will  vote  unanimously  with  the  shares  which  they 
hold. 

Art.  IX.     Each  six  monthg  a  general  meeting  will 


APPENDIX    B  247 

be  called  at  the  head  office  of  the  Company  on  the 
first  Monday  in  September,  and  the  first  Monday  in 
March,  at  3  p.m.  Fifteen  days  beforehand  notice 
will  be  given,  with  a  list  of  the  matters  to  be 
discussed.  Any  other  matter  despatched  in  such 
meeting  without  a  previous  notice  of  forty-eight 
hours  will  be  considered  null  and  void.  If  a 
majority  of  shares  are  not  represented  by  either  the 
presence  of  the  shareholders  or  of  their  representa- 
tives no  such  meeting  nor  any  other  meeting  will  be 
valid,  but  will  remain  adjourned  from  week  to  week 
for  twenty-eight  days.  After  the  termination  of 
this  period,  any  number  of  shareholders  will  con- 
stitute a  legal  meeting. 

Art.  X.  The  half-yearly  meeting  of  shareholders 
will  elect  Directors  and  President,  and  will  have 
full  power  to  investigate  matters  and  examine  the 
business  of  the  Company.  The  votes  at  all  meet- 
ings will  be  by  shares,  counting  each  share  as  one 
vote. 

Art.  XI,  An  extraordinary  meeting  can  be  called 
at  any  time  by  the  President,  and  will  be  held  at  the 
head  office  of  the  Company  after  the  shareholders 
have  received  notice  a  week  before  date  of  such 
meeting.  Such  meeting  will  have  all  the  rights  of 
the  half-yearly  meeting,  and  if  representing  a 
twentieth  part  of  the  shares  can  call  at  any  time  a 
general  meeting  of  shareholders,  giving  to  the 
President,  with  their  signatures  at  the  foot,  fifteen 
days  notice. 

Art.  XII.  The  first  Directory  will  consist  of  four 
persons  whose  functions  will  be  honorary  :  William 
Lane  (President),  Alfred  Walker,  Charles  Holyer, 


248  APPENDIX   B 

and  James  Mooney,  who  will  manage  the  business 
of  the  Company  for  six  months.  Three  Directors 
form  a  quorum.  The  Directors  will  be  eligible  for 
re-election,  in  case  of  a  vacancy  it  must  be  filled  by 
the  President  until  a  general  meeting  can  be  called. 

Art.  XIII.  The  functions  and  duties  of  the 
Directors  are  :  (a)  To  manage  all  the  society's  in- 
terests, and  work  for  their  greatest  advantage ; 
(h)  to  fix  the  Budget  and  authorise  extraordinary 
matters;  (c)  dictate  internal  regulations  ;  (if)  authorise 
contracts  made  by  the  Society,  including  those  of 
buying  and  selling;  (e)  present  at  the  general  meet- 
ings the  balances  and  reports,  according  to  Art. 
XVI. 

Art.  XIV.  The  functions  and  duties  of  the 
President  are  :  (a)  To  represent  the  Society  legally ; 
(b)  to  convene  ordinary  and  extraordinary  meetings 
according  to  the  statutes  and  with  consent  of  the 
Directory ;  (c)  to  preside  at  the  meetings  and  decide 
the  voting  in  cases  of  equality  of  votes  in  the 
sessions  of  the  Directory ;  (d)  to  execute  the  resolu- 
tions of  the  meetings  and  of  the  Directory,  and  to 
provide  for  the  carrying  out  of  these  statutes ;  (e)  to 
sign,  together  with  one  Director,  the  provisions  and 
definite  titles  of  the  shares,  receipts,  transfers,  con- 
tracts, acts,  and  other  documents  that  emanate  from 
the  Society,  and  carry  them  through;  (J)  to  sign, 
together  with  one  Director,  the  writings  relating  to 
the  concession  of  the  land  in  favour  of  the  Company 
by  the  Superior  Government. 

Art.  XV.  There  must  be  elected  an  Auditor 
every  six  months  at  the  general  meeting. 

Art.   XVI.      The   Directors  will   present  to   the 


APPENDIX    B  249 

Auditor  a  report  of  the  Company  every  three 
months,  which  will  be  published  for  three  days, 
and  each  six  months  a  balance  and  detailed  account 
of  the  operations  of  the  Company,  with  proposals  for 
Reserves,  etc.  The  Auditor  will  examine  and  give 
his  report  in  this  respect.  Ten  days  before  the 
general  meeting  the  report  and  balance  sheet  will 
be  published  in  a  newspaper  which  circulates  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Company. 

Art.  XVII.  A  majority  of  three-fourths  of  the 
shares  will  be  required  at  an  extraordinary  meeting 
called  to  resolve  the  following  :  Dissolution  of  the 
Company,  prolonging  its  duration,  fusion  with 
other  companies,  reduction  of  capital,  increase  of 
capital,  change  of  object,  all  other  modifications  of 
the  Constitution. 


APPENDIX  C. 

After  the  arrival  of  the  second  contingent  from 
Australia  certain  regulations  were  altered  in  order 
to  check  the  dictatorial  powers  of  the  directors,  and 
many  new  ones  were  established.  After  revision, 
(see  p.  20),  Clauses  10  and  11  read  thus  : 

Executive  Authority.  10.  Director  and  a  Board 
of  Management  elected  by  a  two-thirds  majority  in 
a  general  ballot,  to  be  sole  executive  authority. 

Departmental  Authority.  11.  Superintendents 
elected  by  a  two-thirds  majority  of  departmental 
ballot  to  be  sole  departmental  authority,  subject  to 
the  Director,  and  Board  of  Management. 

The  following  is  the  text  of  the  other  supplement- 
ary clauses  introduced  after  the  Socialists  had 
reached  New  Australia.  Note  the  multiplication 
of  office-holders — directors,  deputy-directors,  man- 
agers, superintendents,  agents,  etc. 

INITIATIVE. 

30.  Any  twenty-five  members  may  at  any  time 
take  the  initiative  and  convene  a  public  meeting,  of 
which  seven  days'  notice  shall  be  given,  for  the  con- 
sideration of  any  stated  business ;  such  meeting 
may  select  its  own  chairman,  and,  provided  a  two- 
thirds  majority  be  obtained  at  a  ballot  vote  seven 
clear  days  after  such  meeting,  the  decision  arrived 
at  shall  be  held  valid  and  become  law. 

250 


APPENDIX   C  251 

MEMBERS. 

31.  Members  of  the  Association  shall  be  those 
who  have  (a)  satisfied  the  Board  of  Management  or 
any  authorised  agent  as  to  their  desirability ; 
(b)  signed  the  constitution  and  have  complied  with 
all  conditions. 

MEMBERSHIP    LIST. 

32.  The  membership  list  of  the  N.A.C.S.  A. 
shall  be  kept  in  the  central  office  of  the  Association 
in  Paraguay,  and  the  persons  whose  names  are  on 
the  list  shall  be  regarded  as  constituting  the 
said  Association,  and  the  list  shall  be  subject  to 
alteration  by  the  Director  on  twenty-one  days' 
notice  being  given  of  any  intended  addition  or 
erasure  of  names. 

MANAGEMENT. 

SS-  The  control  of  the  Association  shall  be  in  the 
hands  of  a  Director  and  a  Board  of  Management. 

COMPOSITION    OF    BOARD. 

34.  The  Board  of  Management  shall  be  composed 
of  the  Director  and  a  Deputy  Director,  and  two 
managers  from  each  community,  elected  by  a  two- 
thirds  majority  vote  of  all  voters. 

35.  The  Board  of  Management  may  receive  any 
written  suggestions,  complaints,  or  other  matters 
which  members  may  wish  to  bring  before  it. 


252  APPENDIX   C 

S6.  Re-arrang-ement  of  representation  upon  the 
Board  of  Management  may  be  made  at  any  time  by 
a  two-thirds  majority  vote  of  all  voters. 

FUNCTIONS    OF   BOARD. 

37.  The  Board  of  Management  shall  have  full 
authority  (a)  to  expend  the  funds  in  its  hands  as 
may  seem  to  it  best  for  the  good  of  the  Association  ; 
(b)  to  make  such  terms  and  arrangements  with  the 
Government  of  Paraguay  as  may  conduce  to  the 
maintenance  of  cordial  and  loyal  relationship  with 
such  Government ;  (c)  it  shall  have  all  other  powers 
necessary  for  the  carrying  on  of  the  purposes  of  the 
Association. 


EXERCISE   OF   AUTHORITY. 

38.  The  Director  shall  exercise  the  authority,  and 
execute  the  recommendations  and  resolutions  of  the 
Board  of  Management,  excepting  only  the  expend- 
ing of  the  general  funds  of  the  Association. 

DEPUTY    DIRECTOR. 

39.  The  Deputy  Director  shall  supervise  all 
departments,  and  shall  give  a  general  monthly 
report  of  all  work  done  in  each. 

SUPERINTENDENTS . 

40.  Departmental  Superintendents  shall  supervise 
all  work  in  their  particular  department ;  shall  faith- 
fully keep  a  job  time  sheet,  which  they  shall  supply 
to  the  Deputy  Director  in  their  respective  communi- 
ties,   at    least   once   a   week,    and    shall    have    full 


APPENDIX   C  253 

control   of,   and  be   responsible  for,   all   tools  and 
materials  in  their  department. 

TREASURER. 

41.  Election:  A  Treasurer  shall  be  elected  by  a 
two-thirds  majority  vote  of  all  voters. 

42.  Functions :  He  shall  have  charge  of  the  bank 
books  of  the  Association,  and  shall  pay  no  money 
except  by  order  of  the  Board  of  Management.  He 
shall  produce  vouchers  for  all  cash  payments,  and 
any  securities  he  may  hold  in  hand  at  every  audit 
of  accounts.  He  shall,  on  receipt  of  a  written 
notice,  signed  by  the  Director  and  any  three  of  the 
Board  of  Management,  deliver  up  to  the  Director, 
within  seven  days,  all  books,  monies,  cheques,  and 
other  property  of  the  Association  which  he  may 
possess. 

43.  Suspension :  He  shall  be  subject  to  suspen- 
sion by  the  Director  pending  notification  to  the 
members  of  the  Association,  who  may  by  a  two- 
thirds  majority  declare  the  office  vacant,  and  elect 
another  Treasurer  at  any  time. 

SECRETARY. 

44.  Election :  The  Secretary  shall  be  elected  by 
a  two-thirds  majority  vote  of  all  voters. 

45.  Functions:  He  shall  sign  all  official  letters 
and  announcements  of  the  Board  of  Management. 
He  shall  receive  all  monies  for  the  Board  of 
Management  and  put  them  at  once  into  the  bank 
named  by  the  Board,  forwarding  the  deposit  slip 
to  the  Treasurer  within  three  days  of  making  the 
deposit.     He  shall  be  under  the  instructions  of  the 


254  APPENDIX   C 

Director,  and  shall  perform  such  duties  as  may  be 
assigned  to  him.  He  shall  keep  for  reference  all 
reports  and  correspondence  received  by  the  Board 
of  Management,  and  copies  of  all  reports  and 
correspondence  emanating  from  the  Board  of 
Management.  Any  member  may  examine  the 
records  of  the  Association  at  any  time  and  may 
request  a  copy  of  any  specified  record  at  any  time. 

46.  Suspension :  He  shall  be  subject  to  suspen- 
sion by  the  Director  pending  notification  to  the 
members,  who  may  by  a  two-thirds  majority  declare 
the  office  vacant  and  elect  another  Secretary  at  any 
time. 

EDUCATION. 

47.  It  shall  be  incumbent  on  all  children,  between 
the  ages  of  6  and  15  years,  to  attend  the  Association 
schools.  Children  who  will  not  attend  school  shall 
be  compelled  to  work. 

CO-OPERATION   IN   WOMEN'S   WORK. 

48.  It  shall  be  incumbent  on  all  women  to 
organise  for  assisting  in  communal  work  to  the 
best  of  their  ability,  and  for  this  purpose  the  women 
in  each  settlement  shall  form  themselves  into  a 
committee  for  the  purpose  of  deciding  upon  and 
apportioning  the  work  to  be  done  by  each. 

49.  In  case  of  non-fulfilment  of  duties  appor- 
tioned by  such  committee  they  shall  have  power  to 
report  the  same  to  the  Board  of  Management,  who 
will  deal  with  the  matter  as  provided  for. 


APPENDIX   C  255 

MARRIAGE. 

50.  The  Association  may  at  its  discretion  prohibit 
the  marriage  of  any  man  under  18  years  of  age  or 
any  woman  under  16  years  of  age. 

MEMBERSHIP. 

51.  Qualification:  Members  of  the  Association 
shall  be  those  who  have  satisfied  the  Board  of 
Management,  or  their  authorised  agents,  as  to  their 
desirability,  and  signed  the  constitution. 

52.  Disqualification :  The  following  shall  not  be 
admitted  to  membership  :  (a)  Any  not  knowing 
English  so  as  to  understand  and  be  understood, 
excepting  relatives  or  sweethearts  of  members ; 
(b)  any  person  of  colour,  including  any  married  to 
persons  of  colour;  (c)  any  living  together  otherwise 
than  in  lawful  marriage ;  (d)  any  of  questionable 
reputation  ;  (e)  any  person  of  such  unsound  health 
as  would  render  him  or  her  a  danger  or  a  burden  to 
the  community;  (/)  any  objectionable  by  reason  of 
past  disloyalty  to  the  labour  movement,  or  such 
as  are  clearly  opposed  to  the  common  good. 

PAYMENTS. 

53.  Every  member,  by  act  of  joining  the  Associa- 
tion, agrees  to  subscribe  to  its  funds  all  he  may 
possess  when  he  is  finally  enrolled,  tradesmen's 
tools  and  personal  effects  excepted.  Such  subscrip- 
tions to  be  not  less  than  ;£i"30  for  every  male  adult 
above  the  age  of  eighteen  years. 

VOLUNTEERS. 

54.  Volunteers  will  be  enrolled  on  the  payment 
of  a  preliminary  fee  of  £10,  which  sum  remains  the 


256  APPENDIX    C 

property  of  the  Association   and  cannot  be  with- 
drawn. 


FREIGHT   AND    PASSAGE. 

55.  All  charges  of  freight,  passage,  etc.,  from 
the  point  of  departure  to  the  colony,  to  be  defrayed 
by  such  volunteers. 

PROBATION. 

56.  At  the  expiration  of  three  months  from  the 
date  of  their  arrival  in  the  colony,  all  volunteers  will 
be  required  to  complete  the  necessary  conditions  of 
membership,  or  leave  the  colony  at  their  own 
expense. 

WIVES   AND   SINGLE   WOMEN. 

57.  Wives  of  members  are  admitted  free;  also 
all  single  women  between  the  ages  of  16  and  25 
years. 

EXCEPTIONS. 

58.  Exceptions  may  be  made  to  all  of  the  above 
at  the  discretion  of  the  Board  of  Management;  or 
its  duly  authorised  agents. 

AGENTS. 

59.  The  Board  of  Management,  with  the  consent 
of  members,  shall  appoint  agents  and  such  other 
officers  as  will  enable  organisation  to  be  effectually 
conducted,  and  shall  see  that  such  officers  are 
acceptable  to,  and  have  the  confidence  of,  all 
members  in  their  respective  localities. 


APPENDIX   C  257 

60.  To  facilitate  organisation,  groups  shall  be 
formed  by  authorised  agents  whenever  convenient, 
and  shall  be  recognised  as  the  centre  of  the  Associa- 
tion in  their  respective  districts. 

61.  No  agent  shall  bind  the  Association  to  the 
carrying  of  any  contract  by  a  greater  bond  than  the 
deposit  of  such  sums  as  may  be  at  the  time  in  his 
hands,  but  he  may,  at  his  discretion  agree  by  such 
deposits,  to  increase  the  bond  at  a  future  date. 

62.  The  authorised  agents  shall  supervise  emigra- 
tion so  as  to  lighten,  as  far  as  possible,  the  attendant 
hardships;  shall  see  that  every  member  is  provided 
with  personal  necessaries,  and  that  carriage  is  avail- 
able, as  far  as  possible,  for  personal  effects ;  shall 
advise  whenever  necessary,  and  shall  make  regula- 
tions as  may  seem  desirable  for  the  well-being  of 
emigrating  members. 

ADVANTAGES   TO   NON-MEMBERS. 

63.  The  Association  offers  grants  of  lands  to 
individuals,  or  groups  of  individuals,  not  members 
of  the  Association,  on  terms  to  be  arranged  between 
such  individuals  and  the  Board  of  Management  or 
its  duly  authorised  agents.  Such  terms  to  be 
approved  of  by  a  two-thirds  majority  vote  of  all 
voters. 

AMENDMENT. 

64.  Amendment  of  this  constitution  and  regula- 
tions to  be  made  only  by  a  two-thirds  majority  vote 
of  all  voters. 


APPENDIX   D. 


"LABOUR-CHECK"  SYSTEM. 

1.  Each  adult  member  of  the  Association  is 
entitled  to  a  credit  of  $4.20  per  week ;  minors 
between  the  ages  of  15  and  18,  $4;  children  as 
below.* 

2.  A  list  of  prices  of  articles,  likely  to  be  required, 
will  be  kept  posted  in  the  store.  The  storekeeper 
to  order  any  articles  asked  for,  if  a  credit  exists  to 
the  amount  ordered  and  the  article  can  be  obtained 
in  Asuncion. 

3.  All  articles  grown  on  the  settlement  must  be 
sold  through  the  store.  Prices  to  be  fixed  by  a 
committee,  consisting  of  the  Director,  the  Secretary, 
and  the  Storekeeper,  and  as  far  as  possible  at 
current  rates. 

4.  Members  who  receive  their  food  from  the  co- 
operative mess  will  form  a  committee,  and  instruct 
the  cooks  at  what  rate  they  can  draw  from  each 
credit. 

5.  If  the  quantity  of  any  article  be  limited,  and 
the  demand  greater  than  the  supply,  the  said  article 
shall  be  divided  among  the  applicants. 

*  Children  between   0  and    1 $0.50 

„  „  land    5 1.80 

„  „  5  and  10 2.10 

10andl5 3.0 

258 


APPENDIX    D  259 

6.  Each  person  over  15  years  of  age  is  also 
entitled  to  a  clothing  allowance  of  $2  per  week ; 
under  15  years,  $1  per  week.  The  accumulation 
under  this  rule  to  be  solely  spent  on  necessary 
articles  of  clothing,  ordered  through  the  store. 

7.  A  receiving  book  shall  be  kept  by  the  Store- 
keeper at  each  settlement,  and  all  articles,  whether 
produced  or  imported,  be  entered  therein,  and 
copies  furnished  to  the  central  office. 

8.  The  scale  of  diet,  both  as  to  quantities  and 
prices,  shall  be  adjustable  from  time  to  time. 

9.  The  Board  of  ^Management  is  empowered  to 
reduce  any  person's  credit  for  proved  offences. 

May  2 1  St,   1895. 

Note.— The    Paraguayan    dollar    ^vas   worth,  in    1895,  roughly 
sixpence  of  English  money. 


APPENDIX  E. 


THE  IDEAL  HOME. 

In  January,  1901,  when  Cosme  Colony  had  been 
in  existence  six  and  a  half  years,  the  citizens  were 
still  living  in  such  squalid  dens  that  the  community 
drew  up  an  official  standard  of  design  for  dwellings, 
to  be  erected  "one  for  all  and  all  for  one."  The 
following  w^as  the  standard  (by  no  means  realised) 
adopted  for  size  and  build  of  Cosme  dwelling- 
houses  : 

Class  i.     For  Single  Men  or  Women  : 

A  single-roomed  cottage  with  floor  space  to  the 
amount  of  144  sq.  ft.  with  walls  eight  feet  high 
(from  floor  to  the  top  of  wall  plate),  of  sawn  slabs 
with  smooth  side  outward  and  pugged  within  ;  one 
fireplace  and  chimney ;  two  windows  (maximum 
size,  3^  by  2^  ft.)  and  one  door,  or  two  doors  and 
one  window;  verandah  5I  ft.  wide  on  one  side  of 
cottage  ;  earthen  floor  ;  posts  of  round  hardwood  ; 
plates,  rafters,  and  battens  sawn ;  gable  ends  of 
sawn  boards ;  roof  of  whatever  material  may  be 
most  convenient — thatch  or  shingle. 

Class  2.  For  Families  with  not  more  than  Two 
Children,  the  elder  of  whom  is  not  more  than 
five  years  old  : 

A  two-roomed  cottage  with  floor  space  to  the 
amount  of  288  sq.  ft.;   walls  8  ft.  high,  pugged  on 

260 


APPENDIX    E  261 

both  sides;  partition  8  ft.  high,  of  boards;  fireplace 
and  chimney  to  living  room.  Floor  and  general 
manner  of  building  as  for  cottage  'Class  i.'  Front 
verandah  5^  ft.  wide,  back  verandah  7  ft.  wide. 
Detached  kitchen  with  floor  space  of  120  sq.  ft.  in 
addition  to  fireplace.  Fireplace  fitted  with  oven ; 
walls  of  kitchen  6^  ft.  high  with  projecting  eaves. 

Class  3.  For  Larger  or  Older  Families  than 
Class  2  : 

For  each  child  or  pair  of  children,  more  than  tw^o 
children,  under  four  years  of  age,  an  additional  room 
will  be  provided  by  making  verandah  rooms  of  the 
back  verandah,  the  w-alls  of  which  rooms  will  be  of 
sawn  timber.  In  families  where  there  are  children 
of  each  sex  over  six  years  of  age,  arrangements  to 
be  made  for  separate  bedroom  accommodation. 


R 


BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

For  a  note  of  the  authorities  mentioned  in  the  body  of  this 
work,  see   Index. 

For  further  information  concerning  the  origin  and   develop- 
ment of  Socialism  in  Australia,  see  : 

Australian  Socialism,  by  A.  St.  Ledger.     1909.     Macmillan. 
4s.  6d.  net. 
For  a  rapid  survey  of  other  attempts  to  realise  in  practice  the 
ideals  of  Socialism,  see  :  ^ 

The    Failures    of    Socialism.       With    an    Introduction    by 
Thomas   Mackay.     Anti- Socialist    Union.     Id. 
For  authoritative  Socialist  exposition  of  the  aims  of  modern 
Socialism,   see  the  publications  of  : 

The  Clarion  Press,  44,  Worship  Street,  E.G. 
The  Fabian  Society,  3,  Clements  Inn,  Strand,  W.C. 
The  Independent  Labour  Party,  23,  Bride  Lane,  E.C. 
The  Social  Democratic  Party,  Chandos  ITall,  Maiden  Lane, 
W.C. 
For  non-Socialist  criticism  of  modern  Socialism,  see  : 

A   Critical  Examination  of  Socialism,  by  W.    H.    Mallock. 
1908.     John  Murray.     6s. 


262 


Map  showing  position  of  Cosme  and  New  Australia. 


INDEX. 


Adelaide  Advertiser,  130. 
Anarchism,  see  Wells. 
Asuncion,  70. 
Australian  Labour  Federation,    7 

(see  Appendix  A). 
Australian  Socialist  Party,   1. 

Barrier  Miner,  101. 

Bax,  Mr.  Belfort,  53,  229. 

Bebel,   Herr,  89,  238. 

Bellamy,  5,  16. 

Besant,  Mrs.,  62. 

Blatchford,  Mr.  Robert  ("  Nun- 
quam"),  61-63,  88-93,  97,  100, 
113,  124,  136,  143,  147,  221, 
230. 

Botrill,  Dr.,  36,  84. 

Buenos  Aires  Standard,  35. 


riage  service,  173 ;  system  of 
credits,  179,  193;  recruiting 
for,  180,  200;  housing  at. 
Appendix  E  :  disputes  at,  184, 
192 ;  secessions  from,  186,  191, 
199,  204  ;  expulsions  from,  190, 
202 ;  W.  Lane  leaves,  197 ; 
changes  principles,  198 ;  aban- 
dons Communism,   227. 

Cosme  Evening  Xotes,  157. 

Co^me  Monthly,  156,  194,  203, 
205. 

Credits,  143,  179,  193,  Appendix 
D. 

Daily  Xews,  235. 
Daily  Express,  54. 
"Droit  a  la  Pare.sse,"  234. 


Casey,  Mr.,  Ill,  127. 

Chateaubriand,  30. 

Christian  Republic,  see  Jesuits. 

Chubut,  28. 

Clarion,  96,  230. 

Conservative  and  Unionist,  xi. 

"  Co-operative  Commonwealth," 
see  Gronlund. 

Cosme  Colony,  founded  by  W. 
Lane,  155  ;  privations  at,  158, 
194 ;  and  women's  suffrage, 
159 ;  Agreement,  160  ;  life  at, 
166,  172;  initiation,  171;  mar- 


Economic  Review,  10. 
"Ethics  of  Socialism,"  53,  229. 
Every,  Bishop,  214,  228. 
Expulsions,  96,  190,  202. 

"Fabian  Essays,"  62. 

"  Freeland,"  see  Hertzka. 

"Genie  du  Christianisme,"  30. 
Gilmore,  Mrs.,  see  Sydney  Daily 

Telegraph . 
"God  and  my  Neighbour,"  221, 

230. 


263 


264 


INDEX 


Gonzalez  Colony,  106,  107. 
Gonzalez.  President,   29,  106,  107 
Gronlund,     Laurence,     122,    144, 
147,  148. 

Hertzka,  Dr.  Theodor,  18,  25, 
76,  96. 

Ingersoll,  63. 

Jesuits,  The,  29. 

Kaufmann,  Rev.  M.,  31. 
Kennedy,  Mr.,  224. 
Kidd,  Frederick,  116,  210. 

Labour     Check     System,     see 
Credits. 

Lafargue,  Paul,  234. 

Ij   Ami  du  Peujile,  117. 

Lane,  John,  155,  197. 

Lane,  Mrs.  William,  3,  66,  87, 
156. 

Lane,  William,  early  career,  2; 
founds  The  Worker,  4;  "The 
Working  Man's  Paradise,"  17; 
New  Australia  Journal,  38; 
and  morals,  52,  56 ;  appointed 
Administrator,  80 ;  benevolent 
despotism,  93 ;  expels  New 
Australians,  99 ;  and  justice, 
105;  resigns  office,  115  ;  secedes 
from  New  Australia,  116; 
founds  Cosme  Colony,  155 ; 
and  religion,  168;  visits  Eng- 
land, 180 ;  expels  Cosmans, 
190;    leaves  Cosme,  197. 

La  Novia,  215,  219. 


Las  Ovejas,  83,  113,  213,  219. 

"Leaves  from  a  Squatter's  Note- 
Book,"  15. 

Leek,  19,  28,  34,  205. 

Logan,  Captain,  51. 

Loma  Rugua,  113,  213,  218. 

"Looking      Backward,"      see 
Bellamy. 

Lopez,  Dictator,  33. 

Lopez,  Dr.,  32,  81. 

Los  Amigos,   150,  213,  218,  219, 
222. 

Macdonald,  A.,  146. 
Macdonald,     Mr.     J.      Ramsay, 

M.P.,  xi. 
Maeterlinck,  95. 
"  Merrie  England,"    see   Blatch- 

ford. 
Miller,  John  (  =  W.  Lane),  17. 
Morality,  see  Socialism. 
Morris,  William,  53. 

Neue  Freie  Presse,  18. 

"New  Atlantis,"  29. 

"New    Australia,"    by    Stewart 

Grahame,  xi. 
"New   Australia:    A  Report    to 

the  British  Board,"  by  Rogers, 

114,   138. 
New  Australia   Journal,   38,    43, 

72. 
New    Australians,    character    of, 

49,    70,    106 ;   disputes    among, 

57,  66,   77,   86,   103,   141,  220; 

expulsion  of,  96  ;  secessions  of, 

104,     112;     re-patriated,     108; 

revise    Constitution,    124 ;   and 


INDEX 


265 


the  eight-hour  day,  138  ;  aban- 
don Socialism,  208  ;  and  suicide, 
235 ;  and  illegitimacy,  238. 

New  Australia  Co-operative 
Settlement  Association,  prin- 
ciples, 12  ;  colour  line,  19,  150  ; 
Constitution,  20 ;  selection  of 
site,  25 ;  negotiations  with 
Paraguayan  Government,  29, 
32;  prospectors'  report,  34; 
Articles  of  Association,  44, 
and  Appendix  B ;  organisa- 
tion for,  16,  46,  109,  127,  156 ; 
report  to  British  Board  of,  114, 
138 ;  Board  of  ^lanagement, 
116,  126,  135,  137  ;  revision  of 
laws,  124,  and  Appendix  C ; 
disastrous  contracts,  139 ; 
labour  checks,  143,  and  Ap- 
pendix D ;  clothing  allowance, 
144;  natives  admitted,  150; 
receives  Government  subsidy, 
149 ;  Constitution  changed,  208  ; 
grant  of  land  withdrawn,  210. 

"New  Worlds  for  Old,"  see  H. 
G.  Wells. 

"Nunquam,"  see  Blatchford. 

Observer,  3. 

Officials,  66,  69,  122,  132. 

Official  Gazette,  80. 

"  Organisation  of  Society,"  62. 

"Outcome      of    Individualism," 

211. 
Owen,  Robert,  237. 

Pal.TO-Socialists,  53. 

Pall  Mall  Gazette,  137,  146. 


Paraguay,  history  of,  25. 
Pearson,  Professor  Karl,  237. 

Reign  of  Terror,  94,  117,  230. 

"Religion  of  Socialism,"  230. 

Reports,  Foreign  Office,  Diplo- 
matic and  Consular,  70,  105, 
108,  112,  135,  207,  225. 

"Republic,"  by  Zeno,  233. 

"  Revolutionists'  Hand-Book," 
see  Shaw. 

Rossel,  General,  136. 

"Royal  Tar,"  44,  65,  109,  127. 

Saunders,  19,  28,  34 
Schoolmaster,  at  New  Australia, 

214. 
Segerland,  Detective,  111. 
Shaw,  Mr.  Bernard,  100,  120. 
"Socialism,"  by  Flint,   229. 
"  Socialism,"  by  Morris  and  Bax, 

53,  55. 
"Socialism,"      by      Stewart 

Grahame,  xi. 
Socialism,   and  morality,  42,   52, 

237;  the   ferocity  of,   94;   and 

liberty,   113 ;  and    waste,    137 ; 

and  children,  210  ;  and  religion, 

214,  221,  229;  and  .suicide,  233. 
"Socialism  and  Communism,"  31. 
"Socialism  and   Sex,"  237. 
"Socialism  and  the  Family,"  54. 
"  Socialist  Movement,"  xi. 
Socialist  Sunday  Schools,  231. 
"Socialist  Sunday  School  Hymn 

Book,"   231. 
South     Atnerican     Journal,     204 

(note). 


266 


INDEX 


South  Australian  Register,    81. 

Spencer,  Herbert,  63. 

Strike,  The  Great,  1. 

"Sunday   Schools,"   232. 

Sydney  Bulletin,  49. 

Sydney  Daily  Telegraph,  42,  51, 

67,  151,  153,  158,  159,  205. 
Sydney  Worker,  197. 

Taylor,  H.  S.,   153. 
Telegram,  a  bungled,  110. 
Timber,   valuable,   132. 


Tozer,  80,   180,   188. 

Tuyu  Rugua,  213,  216,  219,  222. 

Voltaire.  29. 

Walker,  19,  34. 

Wells,  Mr.  H.  G.,  53,  64,  68,  88, 

119,  120 
Westmijister  Review,  2,  41. 
Women's  Votes,  58,  125,  159. 
Worker,  The  4,  97,  117. 

Zeno,  233. 


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